Former President of the Jamaica Teacher's Association Owen Speid has joined the list of educators warning that the country's education system is facing a crisis with the mass exodus of teachers in the coming school year.
In an interview with Radio Jamaica News, Mr. Speid who migrated to the US last year said the Ministries of Education and Finance were warned two years ago, that following the lifting of the covid pandemic, there would be an exodus of teachers from the classroom.
He claimed that low wages and bullying by some Principals are factors forcing teachers to migrate to other jurisdictions.
On Friday the Ministry of Education said it is anticipating losing about one thousand 250 teachers this year.
However, Education Minister Fayval Williams says this turnover rate has become an annual occurrence.
Mrs. Williams said the number is not alarming and there is a strategy to replace teachers who leave.
