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MORE than 400 teachers have resigned from the public school system in the past 11 days with a big chunk of that number submitting their resignations after collecting their August salary last Friday.

But the main union which represents them, the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA), is not supporting this sudden resignation which it accepts could lead to chaos when the new school year begins on Monday.

JTA President Leighton Johnson is urging his colleagues to follow the rules if they plan to resign, even as he backs their right to do what they think is best for themselves and their families.

"Article 57, Regulation B does indicate that teachers are to give the due notice; however, in a system where it is difficult to police this particular regulation, I think now what we need to do is to ensure that systems are put in place — not to prevent teachers from exercising their franchise of choice — but just to ensure that teachers will do the right thing," Johnson told the Jamaica Observer.

He argued that in many instances teachers grab the opportunity late or move at the spur of the moment as opportunities are presented to them.

However, Johnson was adamant that teachers need to do the right thing in all occasions "to ensure that as they make the conscious decision to secure their families future, they consider ensuring that the position they are leaving, or the school they are leaving will not be left in a position of chaos"

According to Johnson, the JTA is not surprised by the rash of resignations which has seen the number of teachers leaving the public school system jump from 427 on August 18 to 854 on August 29.

"The writing has been on the wall [so] this comes as no surprise to us. The recruiters have [been] vigilant and buoyant in our country and the teachers have indicated, for a very long time, that our compensation package was not adequate for them to continue to live like this

Source: Jamaicaobserver.com

This is an opportunity for at least 400 recently trained teachers in Jamaica, as Universities and the many Teachers Colleges are churning out teachers, many graduates had difficulties finding jobs at home and were looking for positions in the highly demand international market for professional teachers.

In reply to Slipfeeler

To lose one teacher may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose 854 looks like carelessness.

It would be helpful to give some scale to the problem by stating how many teachers remain in the public school system.

In reply to KTom

That sounds like a worthwhile study, maybe someone on the rock could help you with that info.