Teachers are the key factor

THE EDITOR: Apropos of the comments by Mr Raymond Hackett in respect of the purpose of education, the answer simply is “All of the above!” Education is geared to equip individuals for the world of work. It is for the acquisition of knowledge and information to give the individual power and status. It is an instrument of equality and diversity. But most of all, it is the means to national development and a progressive community. In fact, it is the only means to achieve these objectives. Anyone who fails to acknowledge this is doomed to languish in the backwaters of economic and societal development.

And this is why the nation must recognise as an investment in the future which will pay dividends in the years ahead. The changes being wrought in the education system over the last several years may all come to nought if the persons charged with the responsibility for implementation, that is, the teachers, are left out of the loop. If we are to succeed in improving the quality of education, the key factor is the teacher. The demand for teachers has increased and the supply of teachers has decreased, partly because of the diminishing attractiveness of the profession. To quote Educational International: Education is one of the most intensive economic activities. Thus in all countries, salary costs for teachers are the largest single factor in education expenditure, in many cases, accounting for 80 to 90 percent of national education budgets.

This reality does not mean that teachers earn a lot. Both ILO and OECD have noted that compared with other qualified professionals, teachers have an unfavourable position.” The reality is that teachers are underpaid, yet without them education could not work. The longer it takes for the government to accept this, so much longer it will take for education to hit the growth path that would lead to the highly-coveted developed nation status. It is time for teachers’ to be paid salaries consistent with their contributions to national development.

KARAN MAHABIRSINGH
Carapichaima