JAMAICA TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION
97 CHURCH STREET
KINGSTON

SECRETARY GENERAL'S REPORT TO MEETING OF CENTRAL EXECUTIVE, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2003

1. INTRODUCTION
As a professional organization representing teachers, we are not insulated from the socio-economic political issues affecting the country in which we operate. Accordingly, the recent announcement by the Ministry of Finance and Planning of a 'freeze' in the public sector conjures up memories of wage freeze and wage guidelines.

It, therefore, behoves us all to be vigilant so as to ensure that the rights won are preserved. Vigilance can be greatly enhanced by unity of purpose. Unity is part of our motto and is the bond that will ensure that we survive as a viable organization.

2. SALARY NEGOTIATIONS
2.1 Teachers in the Public System
2.1.1 Preparation for 2004 - 2006 Negotiations
Questionnaires to get reductions from JTA members regarding possible items to be included in the claim have been distributed to schools. The responses are due for return by the end of October 2003. According to the Regulations, the claim must be presented to the Ministry of Finance and Planning on or before December 31, 2003.

2.1.2 Unfinished Items
The unfinished items include:
· Refund of the 50% of tuition for teachers who upgrade their qualification without taking study leave.

· Graduate Allowance and, in particular, payment to principals in Infant, Primary and All Age Schools with a first degree who get graduate degrees.

· Housing Allowance for principals in Community Colleges.

· Career path for lecturers in tertiary institutions.

· Conditions of service for new entrants into the teaching service.

Also on the table are the anomalies created between some pay scales. The JTA has been unable to confirm a date with the Ministry of Finance and Planning for a meeting to finalize the discussions on the items identified.

2.1.3 HEART Instructors
The ultimatum given by the unions to the HEART Trust/NTA for a decision on the implementation of the recommendations from the Job Evaluation exercise yielded a response from the Ministry of Finance and Planning on October 16, 2003. A meeting was called by the Executive Director with the unions on Friday, October 17 at which time the Executive Director presented to the union representatives the response from the Ministry of Finance and Planning to the recommendations submitted by the HEART Trust/NTA Board and the reply of the Board which was sent to the Ministry of Finance and Planning.

In essence, the Board rejected the recommendations of the Ministry of Finance and Planning indicating the negative impact on salaries in the organization were the recommendations to be implemented.

The unions unanimously supported the position of HEART and issued a release indicating that if the Ministry of Finance and Planning did not formally respond by Tuesday, October 22, they could not guarantee normality within the academies and the Vocational Training Centres.

The chairman will give the meeting a further update.

2.1.4 Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts
During the negotiations, the JTA had believed that since the outcome of the Parity discussions were automatically applied to the principal and lecturers at the college, the outcomes of the regular salary negotiations would be similarly applied. This did not happen and the JTA met with the Ministry of Finance and Planning and agreed that the salary adjustments, as given to teachers, would be applied to the salaries of the principal and lecturers at the college. Subsequently, the Ministry of Finance and Planning informed the Association that the new and retroactive salaries would be paid in April 2004.

This has been rejected and the Ministry of Finance and Planning informed by the Association that the only acceptable payment plan would be latest December 2003.

The chairman of the Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee will provide an update.

3. OPERATION OF POSTS IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE
In September 2003, the Ministry of Finance and Planning issued instructions to all Permanent Secretaries that, effective immediately, a 'freeze' had been placed on the creation of new posts, filling of vacant posts and the upgrading or reclassification of posts. The JTA sent a letter to the Ministry of Finance and Planning, asking if the circular applied to the teaching service and if 'yes', sought clarification on certain matters.

The response received from the Ministry of Finance and Planning was quite vague, stating that it is their understanding that the Minister of Education, Youth and Culture had issued a statement on the matter. Members would recall that the Honourable Minister of Education, Youth and Culture had stated that the circular did not apply to the teaching service.

Note that the Ministry of Finance and Planning has not said that they support the statement made by the Honourable Minister of Education, Youth and Culture.

4. LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE OF JAMAICA
In my last report to this Honourable body, I had indicated that the Evaluation of Qualifications Committee (EQC) was expected to meet on October 1, 2003 and it was expected that a final decision would be made. The meeting did take place but a final decision with respect to all the teachers who submitted transcripts for assessment was not made. Two transcripts were examined and the decision with respect to those two was that they did not reflect adequate upper-level credits (i.e. years 3 and 4 credits).

The matter was raised at the last meeting with the Minister of Education and the JTA voiced its deep concern about the delay in a final decision being made by the Teachers' Service Commission (TSC) and demanded that TSC holds an emergency meeting to examine all the transcripts and for a final decision to be made.

5. J.T.A. STRATEGIC PLAN
The composition of the Monitoring and Steering Committees were approved by the General Council at its meeting on September 26, 2003. A meeting of the Monitoring Committee is set for November 10, 2003. The Monitoring Committee is chaired by the President.

The new JTA Mission Statement approved at conference has been sent to the Graphic Artist for preparation. Copies will be prepared and will be appropriately displayed in the JTA offices.

6. J.T.A./BERGER PAINTS ROLL OF HONOUR AWARD
Dr. Randolph Watson, Past Principal of the Bethlehem Moravian College, became the 32nd inductee to the JTA Roll of Honour at an impressive and colourful ceremony held on October 9, 2003 at the Hilton Kingston Hotel. It was a function befitting not only the status of the award but also the recipient.

The Association again place on record its thanks to Berger Paints Limited for their continuing support of the award.

We hope that the respective groups responsible for making the nominations will take the matter seriously and nominate more colleagues for the award. There are many more deserving ones out there.

The staff from the Secretariat who participated in the planning of the function ought to feel proud about the quality of the function.

7. CONTACT AND NEW TEACHERS' SEMINARS
The annual Contact and New Teachers' Seminars have begun and are going well. It has put the office under a lot of pressure to prepare the documents but the Office Manager and her team are coping well.

This year we have reverted to parish Contact Teachers' Seminars. In this way, we better cater to the needs and concerns of the teachers within a parish.

We thank the JTA Co-operative Credit Union for partnering with the JTA to put on the seminars.

The New Teachers' Seminars continue to be a fertile ground for the recruitment of new members. But I hasten to point out that this is not the only focus of these seminars.

8. COMPUTER TRAINING PROGRAMME
The programme continues at the centres in Kingston, Port Maria, Montego Bay and Mandeville. Ninety-five participants are involved.

A proposal for the training of teachers has been submitted to the Prime Minister for consideration. We expect an early response.

9. MEMBERSHIP
The President has mandated the Membership Committee to undertake a sustained effort to increase membership, especially in the Secondary Schools. The Membership Committee and the staff in the office have taken on the challenge and are developing strategies to make this possible. One strategy being recommended by the committee is an incentive to members, especially Contact Teachers, who recruit new members. The recommendation is before the House for consideration. The chairman of the committee will update Central Executive on the other strategies identified.

10. NATIONAL COUNCIL ON EDUCATION
The JTA's General Council approved its two representatives to the Council for the new term of office. The Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture is in the process of constituting the Council.

Regarding the appointment of School Boards, at the last meeting the Council was informed that if the 300 Boards in Regions 1 and 2 the Council is responsible for 210 (Government and leased) and of these, 161 have been appointed with the majority of the remaining 49 being leased schools. There are 90 other Boards (denominational and Trust) and 30 have been appointed. For Regions 3 - 6, notices of expiry of tenure have been dispatched. Fifty-three of the Boards in these regions have been recommended to the Minister for approval.

11. WORLD TEACHERS' DAY
Information on the Day was sent to all Media Houses. An article appeared in the Sunday Observer and the Teachers' Time programme was dedicated to that event. The President's message was part of the broadcast.

12. COURTESY CALL ON THE PRESIDENT
A team from the United States Embassy Office of Public Affairs called on the President on October 6, 2003. The Courtesy Call was a prelude to the conference entitled "Lessons for Life: Civic Education in Today's Democracy" which took place on October 7 and 8, 2003 at the Knutsford Court Hotel. The Presidents participated in the conference.

One of the presenters at the conference was Mr. Joseph Davis, Director, International Relations at the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). The President had discussions with him with a view to establishing stronger relationship between the JTA and the AFT.

13. REVISION OF THE 1980 EDUCATION REGULATIONS
The JTA has submitted to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture its response to the revised regulations (draft). Copies of the submission have been circulated to members.

14. CONFERENCES
The President will be attending the Parallel Symposium connected with the 15th Conference of Education Ministers from the Commonwealth to be held in Edinburgh, Scotland, October 27 - 29, 2003.

The Secretary General will be representing the CUT at a conference of the newly formed Commonwealth Education Consortium in Edinburgh October 25 and 26, and the Parallel Symposium on the dates indicated. He has been asked to do a 12-minute presentation of Teacher Supply and Demand in Jamaica at the conference and to be a rapporteur at one of the working sessions of the Parallel Symposium.

The President and the Secretary General will return on October 31, 2003

15. MEETINGS WITH THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, YOUTH AND CULTURE
One meeting with the Minister and her team was held during the period. The matters addressed are listed.

(i) Recovery of Overpayment
The Minister noted receipt of the letter from the JTA with its proposals. The Ministry's responses were:

· that it could only submit the list of the teachers to the JTA only with the consent of those teachers;

· that they would meet with the teachers identified as owing the Government before any deductions are made from the teachers' salaries;

· that the first letter of notice that had been sent to the teachers had been withdrawn and a more appropriate letter giving the details would be prepared;

· that there was no definitive decision on the matter of the use of the retroactive salaries to offset all or a portion of any overpayment.

(ii) Taxation of Housing Allowance

(iii) Payment of New Part-time Rates
There are two issues here. First, the new rates effective April 1, 2003 and second, the payment of tertiary rates to professionals from outside the school who teach 6th form classes. There is an agreement between the Government and the JTA that these persons would be paid not the secondary rate but the appropriate tertiary rate. The JTA was informed that the decision to change from the tertiary rate was based on instruction from the Ministry of Finance and Planning. The Association has asked for a copy of that document but insisted that the Ministry of Finance and Planning has no authority to change an agreement without the consent of the other party and thus the instruction to the Ministry of Education has no validity.
Regarding the payment of the new rates effective April 1, 2003, it is the JTA's information that these rates have not been implemented particularly at the tertiary institutions.

(iv) Performance Evaluation of Teachers
The JTA has received a draft of the instrument for examination. A meting has been set for November 3, 2003 to finalize the instrument. Following this, a consultant will be contracted to critically assess the instrument and the system before piloting commences. The projected date for the beginning of the piloting is January 2004.

(v) Shift Allowance for Principals of Community Colleges
The Ministry of Finance and Planning has not responded to the issue of the allowance being pensionable. The Ministry has accepted the proposal for the payment of an allowance similarly to the Shift Allowance but has not agreed to the JTA's position that it should be pensionable as that paid to lecturers in the teachers' colleges.

(vi) Teachers with Posts of Special Responsibility who become Guidance Counsellors
The Ministry has unilaterally decided to demote these teachers, i.e. to cease payments for Posts of Special Responsibility and in some cases started 'recovery' of overpayment. The JTA strongly objected to this action and demanded that such action be ceased because they have no basis.

(vii) Extension of Teaching Hours
It has come to the Association's attention that the Principal of an institution that is on shift has instructed the teachers that it is required that they work an additional five hours for the week to make up for the reduced hours because of the shift.

The officers of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture could not present or refer to any regulation or circular giving principals directive to so instruct their staff. The JTA's position is that the additional hours is not enforceable and could only be put in place with the consent of all the teachers on the staff of a school.

(viii) Delivery of textbooks

(ix) Communication of decisions to Regional Offices

(x) Furniture

(xi) Construction and Maintenance of Schools
New schools being constructed include:
· Irwin High and Primary
· Falmouth High
· Green Pond High, Primary and Basic
· South Trelawny High
· Falmouth Primary
· Falmouth Basic
· Barrett Hall/Lilliput High
· Frome Technical

The JTA again voiced its objection to the Ministry constructing Basic Schools and not Infant Schools.

16. C.U.T. ACTIVITIES
16.1 Executive Meeting
The first Executive Meeting for the new biennium will take place in the BVI December 5 and 6, 2003. Each unit is entitled to one delegate but may send others as observers.

16.2 North America/Caribbean Conference
The conference will be held in Nevis November 1 - 3, 2003 under the theme Achieving Quality Education in North America/Caribbean.

The planning is co-ordinated by the EI Regional Co-ordinator. The Education International will cover the cost of one delegate from each unit. Additional delegates are at the expense of the unit.

The budget for overseas travel (CUT) may not be able to accommodate this expenditure.

16.3 ILO Seminar on the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour
A seminar to include some units from the Southern Caribbean will be held in the BVI, November 7 and 8, 2003. This is a follow-up session for these units. The seminar will be hosted by the ILO Regional Office in Trinidad and Tobago.

16.4 Women's Committee Training
The third workshop organized by the Women's Committee and sponsored by CTF will be held in the BVI, November 4 - 7, 2003. This is intended for units that were not involved in the first two.

16.5 Consultation on HIV/AIDS Education
A consultation involving CUT units is being planned for January 2004. This consultation is aimed at arriving at priority actions that need to be taken to reduce the spread of the deadly virus in the Caribbean. This region is identified as being next to Southern Africa in terms of incidence of HIV infection. There is growing concern about the impact of the disease on the teaching force worldwide.

The consultation will be followed by a workshop for teachers in Guyana.

17. SECRETARIAT
Miss Karen Carty, Receptionist, resigned in August 2003. She has been replaced by Miss Terry-Ann Gayle. We welcome her to the JTA family and hope that she will enjoy her stay with the organization.

Mr. Gary Bodden, Accountant, has successfully completed the Bachelors Degree in Business Education with lower second class Honours. We congratulate him.

Mrs. Pauline Gray has begun the degree in Management studies (part-time) at the UWI. We wish her the best. Other members of staff are also continuing programmes or have begun new ones.

Miss Novellette Rose is now on maternity leave. We hope all goes well for her and the baby.

18. CONCLUSION
The Chinese character for crisis is the same for opportunity. We must seize the moment, create opportunities and forge ahead. Backed by 110 years of experience, we are a formidable force.

Prepared by: Adolph Cameron.