Part time teachers underpaid

THE EDITOR: This article is designed to attract those in authority at the Ministry of Education. Previous verbal attempts on this issue have fallen on deaf ears. The main concern here is the unfairness in payment of salaries to teachers in the Evening School Programmes (Continuation and Part time Classes) at the Chaguanas Senior Comprehensive School. The hourly rate paid to teachers in the continuation classes since 1983 is $27.00 per hour which is taxable. The Clerk Typist receives $7.50 per hour which is also taxable (Lower than the minimum wage stipulated by the Government).

The hourly rates in the Part Time Classes since 1983 are as follows:-
1st year — $21
2nd year — $26
3rd year — $30

As a result of this, the following exists:-
(1) Qualified tutors are reluctant/unwilling to offer their services.
(2) Staffing is difficult to source in most subject areas eg Sciences.
(3) Lack of continuity when a tutor leaves at short or no notice.
(4) Increase in student dropout rate because of lack of teachers.

It is sad to note that even this meagre salary is paid two months after paysheets are submitted. Promises of an increase in rates were made in 2004, to date everything remains unchanged. These important programmes designed to assist students in Academic and Technical training continue to achieve good results. Comparative rates in similar part time programmes are as follows:-
(1) YTEPP — $40
(2) HYPE — $60
(3) MUST — $60
(4) COSTATT — $60 — $100

Please Minister of Education, have this gross injustice rectified before these much sought after programmes deteriorate further.

DEODATH BOODRAM
Chaguanas