A recent survey by the Caribbean Centre for Educational Planning (CCEP) has revealed that 49 per cent of teachers who have migrated or plan to migrate claim that low wages was the primary reason for leaving Jamaica.

In response to this crisis, the Mico University College Alumni (MOSA), in collaboration with the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA), held a panel discussion on Wednesday titled ‘Securing the Future of Education in Jamaica: Confronting Teacher Migration’. They used the event, which was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Education, to discuss factors that contribute to migration and how to address it.

JTA President Mark Smith highlighted that low salaries are a key driver of understaffed schools, particularly in specific subject areas. He pointed to Shortwood Teachers’ College, where only two out of 44 trainee teachers in a recent cohort chose to stay in Jamaica.

Dr Tamika Benjamin, assistant chief education officer at the Ministry of Education, acknowledged the need to address teachers’ low salaries for long-term improvement. In response to the CCEP survey, which found that 94 per cent of respondents believe that wages are the leading cause of the migration crisis, Benjamin said, “The wages are not the remit of the Ministry of Education. We negotiate, but at the end of the day, that decision is made at the Ministry of Finance based on affordability.”

Despite these challenges, Benjamin stressed the importance of finding a long-term solution to the salary issue, warning that without this, the teacher shortage would worsen.

“Teachers are critical,” she said, noting that there is need to find a create pathway to improving wages over time.

Smith cautioned teachers not to assume that teaching abroad guarantees a better standard of living. He noted that many countries pay poorly, and, as a result, rely on teachers from abroad to fill vacancies. He also pointed out that teachers who migrate often lack legal protections, making them vulnerable to unfair treatment.

Smith proposed that Jamaica consider multilateral agreements, creating a teacher training “industry” to produce more teachers than the country needs, and form partnerships with countries that require teachers. He suggested that small island states, in collaboration with the United Nations and UNESCO, could move away from exploitative models in wealthier nations.

Veteran teacher Richard Chin shared his frustration over salary discrepancies, noting that after returning to Jamaica with over 20 years of experience teaching in the UK, he was paid the same salary as a newly graduated teacher. Chin stated that proper recognition of his expertise might have led him to stay in Jamaica.

“I’d had over 20 years of experience, and when I started teaching again at one of the prominent secondary schools in Kingston, I was put right back at the salary of someone who had just left college after all of those years of education,” he said.

RESOURCE SHORTAGE ADDITIONAL CHALLENGE

Smith also noted that the shortage of resources in schools adds to the challenges. Teachers often feel discouraged by the lack of support to properly execute their lessons, leading to further frustration.

Despite these issues, the JTA president emphasised the importance of international collaboration to address teacher migration. He suggested that Jamaica could create agreements with foreign countries to send teachers abroad for experience while still allowing them to return home after a set period. This would offer teachers greater exposure and help alleviate the teacher shortage.

“You can look at a model that creates a net surplus, where we produce enough teachers to make arrangements with some of these countries that are struggling to retain their own teachers. The teachers are able to earn, so we would rotate them. They would go for five years and then return to their job here,” he proposed.

“The truth is quite clear to see. The problem is with remuneration. When you go and you check in many jurisdictions that are having challenges with teachers, I’m sorry to say it, but remuneration is at the centre of those issues,” he said.

Meanwhile, Benjamin called for more research on the factors influencing teachers to migrate.

“If you look at it from a lopsided approach, you may find you don’t get the traction you want, so understanding all of the factors in a mix ... is important,” she said.

Agreeing with Benjamin, Smith commended the teacher-training institutions across the island, suggesting that the country leverage its resources to form partnerships abroad. He argued that this strategic approach could benefit both Jamaica and the countries in need of teachers, while strengthening Jamaica’s education sector and creating economic opportunities.