Performance-based pay for teachers

Once again, the JEF has endorsed this concept of paying teachers based on their performance. Let me state outright that I do NOT agree with this concept in any way, form or shape. To begin with, a teaching job is not a sales job where people go out and canvas potential customers and kiss their ass so they can spend more and more money…and where sales reps can nurse their customers so that they may show off to prospective clients, the ilk of their current clientele.

It is no secret. The Jamaican education system is in shambles. That is one thing all Jamaicans agree on. Needless to say that this situation is not unique to Jamaica or the Caribbean for that matter. So this matter of paying teachers based on their performance (I.e. the outcome of the children), is a farce.

Imagine 2 children who have to face the same GSAT exam to enter high school at age 10, 11 or 12. One child goes to XYZ Prep School, while the other goes to PQR primary school. Prep schools are privatised schools which run some exorbitant fees, while primary schools are those which are funded by the Government of Jamaica. The majority of persons who send their children to privately run schools, fall into the middle to upper income bracket, while the ones from lower income bracket have no choice but to send their child to a primary school, as prep school fees are cost prohibitive for them. While I have not done any statistical analysis on any data, I am willing to bet that those who send their children to private prep schools are those who have 3 or less children, have at least one parent or guardian heavily involved in homework, school activities, acceptable socialisation practices (and I say “acceptable” because Jamaican children, no matter where they come from are just too out of order these days). I am also willing to bet that those who have children going to primary schools are those with many mouths to feed, loose family structure and very little intervention in the child’s(ren’s) day to day living. Please note that I do not speak in absolute terms because children from all classes go to these 2 schools, but perhaps not in any great quantity.

So…we have the child who usually has a strong foundation from the prep school and the who usually has a weak foundation from the primary school entering the government high school system. Every Jamaican parent bawls when their child doesn’t pass for a traditional high school, as I am sure they realise that not going to these, lessens your life chances. This is why every year when GSAT results come out and parents stage a media play to voice their displeasure that their 50-60s average child didn’t get into one of the traditional high schools.

Now imagine that if I were a teacher and applied for a teaching post in a high/secondary school, which comprised mainly children who are coming from PQR primary schools, who probably have “average” grades. Now imagine that you are a teacher who has applied for a teaching post in a high/secondary school which comprised mainly children who are coming from XYZ prep, with 90+ averages. Which teacher is immediately at an unfair disadvantage? Does it take rocket science to see that the teacher described first would have a hell of a lot of work to do? That teacher would have to ensure that the students would be catching up on what they should have done in the elementary phase plus the secondary phase. So why should that teacher be penalised because the government system gave them “basket to carry water”? If you teach in a school where children are coming from the likes of XYZ prep, your battle is 70% won. It is just not fair to have any teacher penalised for the “dunceness” of a child and rewarded for the “brightness” of a child.

I vehemently oppose the importation of teachers into Jamaica, especially as some First World countries import many of our teachers. I wonder why those teachers left? Could it be the pitiful salary scale that they are offered? I recently saw a teaching position at a local “traditional” high school being advertised. Would I apply? Hell no! I already know what the salary scale is and I already earn twice that without even leaving my home (I work from home on a computer for all those who may be speculating I may have some sort of seedy operation). If the price was right, I would possibly apply for a contract position at a high school, where I am not forced to be there from 8am - 3pm or whatever hours schools are in operation.

Then there is the issue of “wooing” retired teachers. Now why would any retired teacher who watches the news daily and count their blessings that they don’t have to deal with these nowadays beastly, untrained children, want to go out and sacrifice rest time? They have served the system well. It is now time to rest.

But…in true Jamaican style, we would rather import a foreigner, pay them a whole heap of money(the don’t usually come cheap), rather than look inwards. We have the resources here. We are not all a bunch of dummies. But raise the damn pay scale and make it attractive. Until then I am staying home!