Rashaed Esson
Staff Writer
#TeacherShortage#Jamaica#England, April 5 – Schools in England have increased the recruitment for qualified teachers from countries outside of Europe including Jamaica, worsening the country’s shortage in teachers, according to reports. Statistics show that in 2023, 1,100 work visas were issued to qualified secondary school teachers for England, more than the five hundred and fifty five issued in 2022 and the two hundred and five in 2021. From Jamaica alone, there were four hundred and eighty six qualified teachers in 2023, twice as many compared to 2022. Head teacher and President of the Jamaica Teachers Association (JTA), Leighton Johnson, reportedly highlighted that teacher shortages have been so severe to where positions were unfilled for more than a year and where retired, untrained and even teachers on vacation, were hired.
