New statistics out of the Ministry of Education and Youth are showing that the number of teachers resigning from the public education system is double the amount that was originally reported.

Education Minister Fayval Williams, disclosed during a post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House on Wednesday, August 30, that 854 teachers have tendered their resignations since January, up from the 427 that was reported on August 16.

However, she pointed out that the figure, to date, for this year “[is] still a 44 per cent decline from what we saw in the January to September period of 2022”.

Some 1,538 teachers resigned over the corresponding period in 2022.

“Ahead of the [2023/24] school year, obviously, getting notice here a few days before school opens, I can fully understand the uncertainty of our principals [and] our boards across Jamaica,” the minister added.

Williams reiterated strategies developed by the ministry to assist schools with the teacher recruitment process. She said boards have been given preapproval to make early recruitment decisions.

“They were given approval to engage part-time, retired and pre-trained graduate teachers, final-year student teachers, redeploy under-utilised staff, merge small classes, use the block timetable approach [and] increase the use of information and communications technology in the classroom,” Williams stated.

Schools may also use the recently launched job bank to identify and recruit teachers. The minister maintained that the practice of teachers resigning without notice was unprofessional. She reminded educators that there is a legal requirement for those who are permanent in the system to give three months’ notice, and for those holding temporary, acting, or provisional positions to provide four weeks’ notification.

This is stipulated in section 54 of The Education Regulations of 1980.

Meanwhile, Williams advised that there are 25,000 teachers within the public school system.

“I know there will be the argument that Maths [and] English teachers… are the important ones in the system where we may see gaps. And yes, I will agree, and we need to ensure that we are aggressive in terms of offering scholarships for those very important areas,” she said.

Last year, there were heightened concerns regarding migration of the island’s teachers.