Jamaica Teachers' Association President, Clayton Hall. – File See more images...
Jovan Johnson, Gleaner Writer
The Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) has suspended its monthly meetings with the Minister of Education, Ronald Thwaites as it continues to register its disapproval with the imminent changes to leave entitlements for teachers.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the JTA’s Central Executive today.
The JTA is to inform Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance, Horace Dalley, that the proposals, if implemented, will breach the Heads of Agreement signed between the Government and the JTA in March.
JTA president Clayton Hall, says the education Minister’s pronouncements have serious implications for the recently signed heads of agreement signed with the Government.
Ronald Thwaites has announced that the Ministry has suspended the granting of study leave to teachers on the grounds that it is unsustainable and unaffordable.
Thwaites also announced that changes will be made to the vacation and sick leave system because the associated cost is unsustainable.
However, the Teachers' Association has argued that the current policy on vacation leave is one of the reasons teachers accepted being paid at 80 per cent of market value.
The JTA says the meetings with the minister will be suspended until the Association has completed a series of consultations with its members within the various Parish Associations.
