Responding to the recently passed Jamaica Teaching Council (JTC) Bill, leaders of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) and the Caribbean Union of Teachers (CUT) have expressed grave concerns over the implications of the legislation on teacher autonomy and the future of education in Jamaica, including the potential exodus of educators.
Potential exodus of educators
The JTA President, Dr. Mark Smith, warned that the bill passed in the Jamaican Upper House on April 25th, 2025. could drive many teachers to leave Jamaica for better conditions abroad. "If this bill goes through as is, we could see a significant number of our teachers leaving the country. The bill is overreaching and does not support the needs of our educators," Dr. Smith noted. He emphasized that several countries are prepared to welcome Jamaican teachers, which could exacerbate the existing teacher migration crisis.
A call for unity
Despite the challenges, Dr. Smith urged teachers to unite and continue advocating for meaningful changes. "We must stand together and push for a bill that truly supports the professional development and autonomy of our educators," he said. The JTA has vowed to take all possible actions against the passage of the bill in its current form, signaling a strong stance against the government's approach.
Dr. Smith went on to explain: "We call upon our policymakers to recognize education as the most powerful investment we can make for a country's future. The JTA, after two decades of staunch advocacy on this bill, feels betrayed as the bill in its present form demonstrates no meaningful effort to address the critical concerns raised by teachers. We are not against professionalizing the teaching service; we support it, but we believe that the approach being taken is heavy-handed. The bill that purports to professionalize the teaching service seems more obsessed with punitive sanctions and taking control of the profession away from teachers. We embrace any bill that empowers teachers and gives them an agency over their own profession.”
He was also adamant that “the JTA will continue to advocate unapologetically for teachers' rights to have greater agency and administration over their profession, as is the case in all other professions and regulatory bodies in Jamaica. This bill must not be put into law in its current form. The teachers of Jamaica will not accept what we consider a betrayal. Nevertheless, we continue our advocacy, calling for unity among our ranks. The truth is, there is only one group that benefits from a weakened JTA, and that is whichever party forms government. We must never forget that. Both parties have their fingerprints on this bill, so let us not be divided in our attempts to move forward".
A plea for change
JTA Secretary General Dr. Mark Nicely added that his union has been asking the same questions to the different ministers of Education over a long time: "We said to them: Minister, do you love the teachers? Do you love the nation's children? Do you value the education system of Jamaica? And they said yes. And we said: Fix the bill!”
The JTA media release dated May 4th, 2025, also underlines: “We call upon both the government and the opposition to recognize that Jamaica’s teachers will not forget the passage of this deeply flawed legislation if passed in its current form. The stakes are high. Our teachers, students, and the future of Jamaican society hang in the balance. We therefore urge policymakers to reconsider and adopt the necessary amendments put forward by the JTA and other stakeholders since 2014 with a view to ensuring that the final version of the Bill genuinely supports and uplifts the teaching profession.”
Concerns over teacher autonomy
Dr. Garth Anderson, President of the Caribbean Union of Teachers (CUT), echoed similar sentiments and has been vocal about the potential overreach of the JTC Bill. "The power of the Minister to name 23 members of the 31-member board is alarming. This bill seems less about professionalizing the teaching profession and more about controlling teachers," he stated. He further questioned the motives behind the bill, suggesting that it could lead to punitive measures against educators.
Dr. Anderson also highlighted the disregard for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Standards for the Teaching Profession, which advocate for the inclusion of teachers' voices in legislative processes. "The government seems to be ignoring these standards, which is concerning for the future of education in the region," he said.
In its statement of solidarity dated May 7th, 2025, CUT stresses that it “has been closely monitoring the development surrounding the JTC Bill and is aware of the significant concerns raised by the JTA regarding certain provisions within the legislation as passed by the Senate. As the regional body representing teachers’ unions across the Caribbean, CUT recognizes the critical importance of robust and independent teacher representation in the legislative process that directly impacts the professional lives, rights and responsibilities of teachers”.
It also “supports the JTA’s position that while the establishment of a Teaching Council can be a positive step towards professional development and regulation, the framework must be one that respects the rights of teachers, ensures due process, and is built on a foundation of genuine partnership between the government and the teaching fraternity.”
It also “believes that effective legislation concerning the teaching profession must be the product of comprehensive dialogue and negotiation between the government and the teachers’ union. The expertise and perspectives of practicing teachers, as represented by the JTA, are invaluable in shaping policies that are practical, implementable, and ultimately beneficial to the quality of education and the well-being of educators.”
A crucial struggle for education unionism in the Caribbean
CUT finally “emphasizes that the unity and solidarity of teachers’ unions are paramount in advocating for the rights and professional standing of educators throughout the region. The situation in Jamaica is of regional significance, and CUT is committed to supporting the JTA in its pursuit of a JTC Bill that truly serves the best interests of teachers and the education system in Jamaica.”
As the debate continues in the House of Representatives, the future of the JTC Bill remains uncertain. However, the unified opposition from JTA and CUT highlights the critical need for a legislative framework that genuinely supports and empowers teachers in Jamaica.