Significant number of vacancies in school now filled

A significant number of the teacher vacancies in schools islandwide, resulting from the resignation of approximately 248 educators, have now been filled, Minister of Education and Youth Fayval Williams, has said.

Addressing a virtual back-to-school press briefing on Thursday (September 1), she advised that institutions have been identifying and recruiting qualified teachers to replace those who have exited the classrooms.

Mrs Williams cited Region Two, which comprises, St Thomas, Portland, and St Mary, where she said 80 per cent of the schools reported that they have replaced teachers who have resigned.

The Minister further indicated that one Corporate Area school, which lost 16 teachers, “[has] replaced all except one of those”.

She said that in Region Four, which comprises St James, Westmoreland, and Hanover, approximately 75 per cent of vacancies have been filled, while interviews for additional teachers are ongoing.

The Minister advised that approximately 964 persons graduated from teachers’ colleges this year, in different specialisations.

Mrs Williams said the Ministry has provided principals with several strategies they can use in recruiting teachers.

These, she indicated, were conveyed in a bulletin to Board chairpersons and principals.

Meanwhile, Mrs Williams disclosed that a platform is being created to allow persons seeking employment as teachers to upload their resumes.

“Principals will be able to see at a glance… persons who want to come into the teaching profession. It will allow greater efficiency in terms of connecting schools to teachers, [and] getting those interviews done. It’s a facility for the education sector that will make it easier for those looking to meet up with those who are hiring,” she pointed out.

The 2022/23 academic year begins on Monday, September 5.

-JIS NEWS-

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