Teachers deserve a livable wage

THE EDITOR, Madam:

I am a student and I strongly agree that teachers should get the salary they demand. A teacher’s salary should be a livable wage, not just a wage for paying bills and going to the supermarket. Their salary should also be able to cover other important matters.

Every day you go to the supermarket the prices are unreasonably high. This week you may spend $20,000, and the following week it costs more for the very same things.

The Government needs to take into consideration the current shortage of teachers due to migration, and I’m sure more are considering the same. The evidence is overwhelming that the low salary for teachers is the major cause of this shortage.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, students suffer major consequences with learning outcome. Many students did not have access to the internet or an electronic device for online classes. As a result, their academic performance suffered.

We know that most students need face-to-face classes to progress. Teachers being on strike affect students all over Jamaica, just like the pandemic did.

Stressful times

Students are out of school and falling behind on what should have been covered in a week.

We all know that the Government has difficulties too, but they need to do right by the teachers.

These days, the teachers are facing so many stressful things in schools. Being abused physically and verbally by students; and some teachers have even died.

Mr Prime Minister, please give the teachers a livable increase and avoid further disruption to the lives of our teachers and students.

Teachers should be seen and feel like they are important and valuable to the education system. Without them, we would have an uneducated society, which will lead to a big increase in crime.

SHANEAL FALCONER