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JTA wants PM Holness to relinquish the Education Ministry portfolio
The Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) wants Prime Minister Andrew Holness to reconsider his decision to retain the Education Ministry portfolio.
Paul Adams, JTA President, says the organization would prefer that the Education Ministry is not held by the Prime Minister, due to the scope and importance of the portfolio.
According to the JTA President, he is worried that not enough attention will be paid to the many issues and challenges in the education sector if the ministry is led by the Prime Minister.
Mr. Adams added that although the JTA understands clearly that it is the prerogative of the Prime Minister to make whatever Cabinet decisions he thinks are in the best interest of the country, keeping the education ministry is a bad one.
"In our estimation, the Ministry of Education and the education system is too important a sector and too wide in scope for it to be treated as a department of the Office of the Prime Minister. The level of consultations and dialogue with stakeholders, which include the JTA, may be severely undermined," Mr. Adams said.
Referring to the recent impasse involving the JTA and Mr. Holness, regarding the appointment of Alphansus Davis to the Teachers Service Commission and the subsequent involvement of then Prime Minister Bruce Golding, Mr. Adams reiterated that the new Prime Minister has blundered in retaining the ministry.
"That was referred to the then Prime Minister, who had two meetings with the JTA and then resolved the impasse, so we are recommending that (Mr. Holness) kindly reconsider his decision and separate the Ministry of Education from his position as Prime Minister and name a full time Minister of Education because we do not believe that the impression should be given that the Education Ministry is subject to an electoral time period," he stated.
It was revealed on Tuesday during the swearing- in ceremony for Cabinet members that Mr. Holness would be staying on as Education Minister.
The Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) wants Prime Minister Andrew Holness to reconsider his decision to retain the Education Ministry portfolio.
Paul Adams, JTA President, says the organization would prefer that the Education Ministry is not held by the Prime Minister, due to the scope and importance of the portfolio.
According to the JTA President, he is worried that not enough attention will be paid to the many issues and challenges in the education sector if the ministry is led by the Prime Minister.
Mr. Adams added that although the JTA understands clearly that it is the prerogative of the Prime Minister to make whatever Cabinet decisions he thinks are in the best interest of the country, keeping the education ministry is a bad one.
"In our estimation, the Ministry of Education and the education system is too important a sector and too wide in scope for it to be treated as a department of the Office of the Prime Minister. The level of consultations and dialogue with stakeholders, which include the JTA, may be severely undermined," Mr. Adams said.
Referring to the recent impasse involving the JTA and Mr. Holness, regarding the appointment of Alphansus Davis to the Teachers Service Commission and the subsequent involvement of then Prime Minister Bruce Golding, Mr. Adams reiterated that the new Prime Minister has blundered in retaining the ministry.
"That was referred to the then Prime Minister, who had two meetings with the JTA and then resolved the impasse, so we are recommending that (Mr. Holness) kindly reconsider his decision and separate the Ministry of Education from his position as Prime Minister and name a full time Minister of Education because we do not believe that the impression should be given that the Education Ministry is subject to an electoral time period," he stated.
It was revealed on Tuesday during the swearing- in ceremony for Cabinet members that Mr. Holness would be staying on as Education Minister.
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