Teachers face dilemma

Jennifer Paul-O’Donnell, Principal of St Ignatius Catholic Primary School	Brian Wilson, Chairman of the Private School Association

Thursday,  February 16, 2006

There are 10 schools in the Private School Association and they are all facing the same issue of potentially losing teachers when they reach the seven-term limit if they do not receive exemptions. 

Even if all private school teachers do receive them however, and become eligible for permanent residency, private school teachers are lumped into the same professional status as attorneys and lawyers and therefore must pay CI$5000 on top of the CI$500 application fee.

This is a charge which some teachers say is out of range for them. Especially when they do not earn anything like the salaries commanded by legal and financial professionals within the offshore sector, according to the Principal of St Ignatius Catholic School, Jennifer Paul-O’Donnell. 

“It makes it tough for private teachers because Government teachers do not need a work permit and they earn significantly more than private school teachers,” said Ms Paul-O’Donnell. 

“There is a worldwide shortage of teachers so everyone is competing for the same good teachers. So it makes it even more difficult to recruit.

“On this Island it is hard to find living accommodation especially when you are earning $3000 a month. You want to get teachers with experience and they usually get to a place in their career where they don’t want to share a place with someone else.”

St Ignatius requested exemptions for all of their expatriate teachers to the Immigration Work Permit Board, but received a letter directing the school to Cabinet. Consequently, the school is in the process of sending letters to the Cabinet members requesting exemptions for all their expatriate teachers.

The Chairman of the Private School Association, Brian Wilson, said most of the private schools have the same concerns regarding the seven-year term limits and therefore the Association is trying to arrange a meeting with the Minister of Education, Hon Alden McLaughlin.

“Private schools are very concerned about it,” said Mr Wilson. “We will meet with the Minister of Education in due course to make him aware of our concerns.”

He added that quite a few teachers are wondering about their security on the Island, which is also affecting important decisions for some of them such as whether they should or should not buy property.

“There are teachers who have been here seven and eight years and would like to stay but they are worrying about what is going to happen. It is difficult to have long-term plans when you are not sure how long you are going to be here,” he said. 

He added there are not enough Caymanians to fill the many teacher positions in private schools; consequently, many teachers are expatriates. 

“Teachers are essential employees. Those who have been here for several years have demonstrated a commitment to Cayman and could be regarded as key personnel who are difficult to replace.

“Continuity is most important in the field of education and it is in everyone’s interest to offer key personnel long-term security of tenure,” he said.

shurna@caymannetnews.com

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