Gov’t to Save $223 Million from Re-Deployment of Teachers

The Government is expected to realise savings of $223 million over the next two years through the re-deployment of teachers.

This was disclosed by Minister of Education, the Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites, during his contribution to the 2013/14 Sectoral Debate Wednesday, May 15, in the House of Representatives.

He explained that under-deployed teachers in the system will be assigned to posts that will be made vacant this year due to retirement, rather than hiring additional persons.

“We know, for example, if we use under-deployed teachers to replace those who are retiring, in one region alone, we can save $90 million a year. Can you imagine when it applied over the whole system?” the Minister said.

He noted that the savings realized will be used to upgrade teaching and learning. “All our schools and regions must find and realise such savings,” he said.

Minister Thwaites noted that there are about 1,270 public school teachers who are under-deployed because “the establishment at their given schools does not reflect the accepted student/teacher ratios”.

“This long-standing problem of being able to balance the teacher/student ratios over the various educational institutions requires collaboration from the schools, the regions and the teachers’ union. This is a call to action,” he stressed.

Contact: Alecia Smith-Edwards