Minister of Education and Youth, Fayval Williams, is to convene a special meeting with the President of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA), LaSonja Harrison, to address issues of concern to teachers arising from the recent compensation review.

Minister Williams says that coming out of the meeting with the President of JTA she will spearhead the setting up a special team dedicated to answering questions regarding information on the pay advice of teachers and related queries. 

“The continuation of partnership building is critical to the strengthening of Jamaica’s education system and as such I will continue to facilitate the engagement of all stakeholders who are critical to the realisation of that and related objectives,” Minister Williams said.

For months, teachers have been complaining about not receiving their pay. The delayed payments have severely impacted the education ministry with many teachers often refusing to show up for work until they are paid.

The latest incident of delayed payments took place last month when thousands of teachers across the island did not received their April salary payments and were not informed of possible delays in their salary.

At the time, Harrison had said that the delay in teachers’ salaries is disrespectful to the nation’s educators and warned that the JTA cannot guarantee normality in schools.