Press Releases

Re:  Abduction and Murder of  8 yr old Danielle Rowe

The Jamaica Teachers' Association, while still basking in the success of our children at the 38th JTA Sagicor National Primary School Athletic Championships on June 9 and 10 is equally distraught by the news of the passing of an eight year old student at the Braeton Primary School.

Danielle Rowe, the eight-year-old student was abducted from her school in Portmore, St Catherine and later found with her throat slashed in Vineyard Town, St Andrew on Thursday, June 8.

Re: Non-payment of Salaries.

The Jamaica Teachers’ Association notes the current period of frustration being experienced by our members; we believe this is a blatant disrespect to the nation’s educators. We are aware that some members are in receipt of payments, though questions abound regarding its accuracies, however this is of no comfort to those who have not.

In light of this financial malaise, the Government of Jamaica must make provision to offset interest rates to be accrued on teachers’ loans and other credit facilities.

The Jamaica Teachers’ Association finds it untenable that several categories of teachers across the island have not received their pay to date. While the data pours in for collation to be sent to the Ministry of Education, let it be known that this is highly unacceptable! Teachers who are already underpaid, will now have to find additional sums to offset arrears in which their loans will now fall! The teacher again must bear this burden. Who truly cares?

97B CHURCH STREET, KINGSTON, JAMAICA, WEST INDIES
TEL.: (876) 922-1385-7, FAX: (876) 922-3257
MEDIA RELEASE

June 25, 2024

Seven candidates contested the 2024 JTA President - Elect Election held June 17 - 21, 2024. They were:

The matters of teacher migration and the recruitment of foreign educators are among key issues to be debated at the 60^th annual conference of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) now under way in Duncans, Trelawny.

The Jamaica Teachers’ Association hereby signals its utmost displeasure with the following three matters:

Kingston, Jamaica: Upon being made aware of the non-payment of graduate allowances for teachers, Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, immediately escalated the matter to Cabinet for resolution.

The Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information has been instructed to continue paying graduate allowances for teachers until further advised. 

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Dr. Kasan Troupe committed to quickly implementing the decision:

The Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA), is appealing to all law abiding citizens to reflect and show respect for all humanity including our children and to determine the kind of legacy we wish to leave post- Independence 2025 .

The call is being made in light of the gruesome murder and attempt to discard the remains of the nine-year-old girl inside a barrel at Job Lane in Spanish Town on Friday, May 9.

STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY FROM THE JAMAICA TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION

In Support of the Nurses Association of Jamaica and All Jamaican Women

On behalf of the National Education Association (NEA) and our 3 million members, we stand in solidarity with the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) in your advocacy for a fair and equitable Jamaica Teaching Council (JTC) Act of 2025.

As fellow members of Education International, we share your commitment to strengthening the teaching profession and ensuring that educators have a strong and respected voice in shaping the policies that affect our classrooms and communities.