Ghana is set to send teachers to Jamaica as part of an international effort to address a shortage of educators in the island’s public school system.
This development comes as the Jamaican Ministry of Education and Youth ramps up its recruitment of overseas teachers to fill vacant positions.
Permanent Secretary Dr Kasan Troupe announced that Ghana, along with the Philippines, has expressed strong interest in providing educators to Jamaica.
Discussions have already taken place between the Ghanaian ambassador and the Jamaican Education Ministry, and a delegation from Ghana is expected to visit Jamaica during the week of August 11 to finalize the arrangements.
“What is interesting with this discussion, colleagues, is that they (the teachers) are interested in working for the same emoluments as we offer to our teachers in Jamaica,” Dr. Troupe stated.
She added, “In some instances, we are getting a number of volunteers who have also expressed some interest in being deployed to assist with our shortage that we have right here in Jamaica, and predominantly our (subject) areas are mathematics and the sciences for this year.”
These Ghanaian teachers are reportedly willing to work for the same salaries offered to local Jamaican educators, which Dr. Troupe described as a positive step forward. This initiative is part of a broader strategy by the Jamaican government to ensure that schools are fully staffed for the upcoming academic year.
Dr. Troupe emphasized that while these international recruitment efforts are underway, schools in Jamaica are not being compelled to hire foreign teachers but are being provided with additional options to ensure adequate staffing.
“Our responsibility as a ministry is to provide options for our principals… We are not forcing, but our schools must have options as they try to make sure their staff members are in place for the new academic year,” she indicated.
SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES
