While some Jamaicans are sympathetic towards the Government being unable to increase the teachers' salaries and pay retroactive money owed to them, I am not. The Government should pay, as teachers are one of the most pressured, overqualified underpaid essential service workers in Jamaica, but they are not regarded as such.

Have you ever wondered what it takes to be a teacher? I see people in Government criticising me 24/7 on issues concerning the literacy development of our nation's students, yet, they refuse to provide me with the adequate resources. I work under some of the worst sanitary conditions, my classes are overcrowded and my students sit four to a desk. How can I fully reach all the students at the ratio of one teacher to 40 students?

Financial burden

At my school there are teachers with master's degrees, plus their teachers' diploma. I myself have a teacher's diploma, but the Government was not satisfied, so they told me that I should upgrade myself as I needed a degree by God knows when or I will be out of the system. So, in the end I will have a degree plus a teacher's diploma. It took an arm and a leg to upgrade myself and I need them back, so the Government should give me my money so that I may relieve myself of this financial burden I am in.

I am, etc.,

St AUBYN RICHARDS

clever2g@yahoo.com