STRUCTURES AND SERVICES OFFERED TO TEACHERS

The JTA is a democratic organization dedicated to the professional, financial and social advancement of its members and the promotion of the highest educational standards for the country.

To be the regional benchmark for teacher membership organizations; setting standards of excellence in service delivery and committed to national development through education.

The JTA was founded on April 2, 1964.

The instruments governing membership and procedures of the body were examined and ratified at the inaugural conference held on April 2, 1964.

The resolutions constituting the Association were passed at a special conference at Excelsior High School on December 14, 1963.

The Association was formed from the merger of five teachers’ associations that existed up to April 2, 1964.

Jamaica Union of Teachers (JUT), Association of Headmasters and Headmistresses (H2M2), the Association of Teachers in Technical Institutions (ATTS) and the Association of Assistant Masters and Mistresses (A2M2)

These five associations pursued parallel and separate objectives until the late 1950s when proposal to unify began to take shape.

Major factors that gave impetus to the unification of the teachers’ unions into the Jamaica Teachers’ Association.

The major factors included:

Jamaica’s attainment of self-government in 1957.

The introduction of the free place system

The draft bill to regulate the education system.

Consequently, the executives of the five groups formed the Joint Executives of Teachers’ Associations (JETA).

The JETA was mandated to make representation on matters related to education and teachers.

In pursuance of this, the group decided to unify into a single teachers’ organization.

To promote the educational interests of the country and keep the public informed concerning important educational matters.

To promote and maintain unity in the teaching profession and safeguard the interests of its matters.

To help in the maintaining of high ethical standards among all teachers.

To make representation on matters on common interests and concern to teachers at all levels.

To represent to the Ministry of Education the teachers’ ideas and experience on educational issues.

To establish relationships with Teachers’ Organizations throughout the world.

The JTA is administered by a group of elected officers and professional staff.

The elected group is headed by the Presidents, i.e. President, President-Elect and Immediate Past President.

The other elected officials represent Parish and District Associations.

SENIOR SECRETARYADMINISTRATION & FINANCE

SENIOR SECRETARY, MEMBER SERVICES

SECRETARY GENERAL

SECRETARY BUSINESS SERVICES

THE SECRETARIAT

The District Association (DA) is the level at which all teachers have the opportunity to participate in policy formation and programmes of the Association.

There are seventy-six District Associations and fourteen Parish Associations.

The Annual Conference of delegates determine the policies of the Association.

The General Council made up of the Parish and District Associations meets quarterly and acts on the behalf of the conference.

The Central Executive meets monthly and monitors the implementation of policies and programmes.

The professional staff is headed by the Secretary General who directs the daily functions, administrations of the Association.

The Secretary General is supported by Secretaries responsible for specific areas of the Association’s work.

These are: Administration and Finance

Member Services

Business Services

Professional Services

There are also four Regional Offices. These are located in Mandeville, Port Maria, Montego Bay and at the Head Office in Kingston.

JTA Liaison Officer

The Head Office is located at 97B Church Street.

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS Negotiates with Government for salaries and fringe benefits.

Keeps under scrutiny the operations of the Education Laws and the regulations derived from them as these relate to the conditions of service of teachers.

Seeks to improve the conditions under which teachers work.

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS cont’d.

Represents concerns of teachers to the Ministry of Education.

Provide advice to teachers to personal and professional matters.

ECONOMIC SERVICES Investment Schemes managed by the JTA Allied Groups

Motor Vehicle InsuranceAirline bookingDiscount from major business enterprises

Overseas and local toursBusiness Advice and Marketing Services

Scholarships, notably the A. Wesley Powell Memorial Scholarship for Teachers.

Co-ordinates scholarships for the Private Sector.

Victoria Mutual Building Society

T.I.P. Friendly Society

Kingston Bookshop

Awards to Teachers

Roll of Honour

W.B.C. (Ben) Hawthorne

Edith Dalton-James

R.C. Tavares

Golden Torch

Prime Minister’s

Part-time Professional Certificate in Education Administration and Supervision.

New Teachers’ SeminarsLeadership SeminarsPre Retirement SeminarsComputer Course

The JTA Co-operative Credit Union created for JTA members as a source of credit at a reasonable rate of interest for productive and provident purposes.

Its head office is at 97A Church Street, telephone: 922-6841, 922-2009, 922-2011.

The JPH is a wholly-owned subsidiary of JTA. The company publishes textbooks for readers at primary, secondary and tertiary levels that regional in content and focus.

Its head office is at 97B Church Street, Kingston.

The Jamaica Teachers’ Association functions both as a Trade Union and a Professional Organization.

1. negotiates improved salaries and fringe benefits for its members;

2. negotiates conditions of service, e.g. working environment, job security, insurance and vacation;

3. guarantees freedom from victimization;

4. provides support on professional, personal and other matters to teachers;

5. provides membership education;

6. establish links with international organizations to form powerful lobby group.

1. promote the educational interests of the country and keep the public informed concerning important educational matters;

2. promote and maintain unity in the teaching profession and safeguard the interest of its members

3. help in maintain high ethical and professional standards among all teachers;

4. make representations on matters of common interest and concern to teachers at all levels;

5. represent to the Ministry of Education the teachers and experience on educational issues;

6. establish relationships with teachers’ unions throughout the world.

Professional Services Provides scholarships Conducts Pre-retirement Seminars Offers Professional Relations Services Provides a teacher resource centre Hosts conferences Hosts Contact Teachers’ Seminars Co-ordinates scholarships for the Private

Sector

Professional services cont’d.Provides awards to teachersPromotes in-service education through seminars, workshops and short courses

Hosts part-time certificate courses in Education Administration and Supervision

Hosts New Teachers’ SeminarsHosts Leadership Seminars

The JTA provides: Overseas and local tours Business Advice and Counselling Marketing Services Airline Booking Discount from major business enterprises

and promotes investments schemes managed by the JTA and Allied Groups

a. The Code of Ethicsand programmes offered by

b. The Professional Services Unit

The Constitution of the JTA stipulates the among the objectives of the Association is the promotion of high professional, ethical and moral standards among teachers. The Cod of Ethics is one of the ways by which the Association seeks to accomplish this objective.

The Code of Ethics came into effect in 1977 after intensive and extensive discussion of the draft circulated to schools, Parish and District Associations. It was amended by Annual conference in 1992.

It is a tool to assist teachers in evaluating their behaviour and conduct.

The Preamble states that:“The teacher recognizes the magnitude of the responsibility inherent in the teaching process. The necessity to earn the respect and confidence of one’s colleagues, students, parents and the members of the community.”

Provides the incentive to attain and maintain the highest possible degree of ethical conduct.

The Code of Ethics sets standards of conduct for teachers in Jamaica.

‘Teacher’ refers to both teachers and principals.

It speaks to five (5) sets of Principles.

1. In relation to students2. In relation to colleagues3. In relation to the Association4. In relation to employers5. General

The Code of Ethics applies to all members of the Association. Complaint of violation of the principles made to the Association by any person or group may be regarded as a charge of unprofessional conduct and shall be investigated by the Association through the proper channels.

The JTA’s impact on the profession and professionalism can be viewed through its achievements over the years.

Some programmes already completed:- Printing of :

* Study Circle Basic Material* Study Circle 2nd level materials* Study Circle – Papers on special issues, e.g. HIV/AIDS, Pensions, Corporal Punishment in Schools, etc.* JTA Code of Ethics

* The Professional Organization Representing Teachers in Jamaica

* Consultation on Literacy in Primary Schools

* Hosting of Conferences on- Primary Education- Secondary Education- Educational Management and Supervision- Managing Classroom Behaviour, 21st Century Challenges, Approaches and Solutions- Strategies for Success – Reaching Every Learner- Middle Managers ( Vice Principals/Senior Teachers)

* Volumes of ‘The Clarion’ – Professional magazine of the JTA.

* Updated Discount List (2009 – 2010)

* Early Childhood Conference supported by the Commonwealth Secretariat.

* Summer courses for Principals/Vice Principals/Senior Teachers in collaboration with the Canadian Teachers’ Federation

* North American and Caribbean Regional Conference.

* Interactive Personality Awareness Workshop

* Mediation Training (1988 – first institution to be involved in Conflict Resolution and Mediation through islandwide workshops)

*Workshop on Crisis Management.

Production of JTA Reporter Production of JTA Bulletin Production of Trail Blazer series Special Conference each year focusing on current issues

Teachers’ Time Programme (done on a weekly basis)

Helen Stills Professional Development Day

New Teachers’ Seminars (serve as recruitment, introduction and professional development).

Contact Teachers’ Seminars

Computer Training Programmes

Hosting of teachers in HIV/AIDS Prevention.

Leadership Training through the League for the Exchange of Commonwealth Teachers (LECT) which takes place in Britain.

Aspects of Protocol and Events Planning

The Association also collaborates in the hosting of the EduVision Conference

Professional Development conferences hosted by:- Education International- American Federation of Teachers

The JTA has over the years been associated with International and Regional organizations including the Caribbean Union of Teachers (CUT), the World Confederation of Organizations of the Teaching Profession (now renamed EI formed in 1992 from a merger of WCOTP and International Free Teachers’ Union), the National Union of Teachers, National Education Association,

Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF) and the Swedish Teachers’ Union Lararforbundet).

The JTA has a proud record of influencing governments and private sector policies.

The Association continues to respond to the needs of the teachers through various media. Recommendations from the conferences are shared with the Ministry of Education for implementation.

The Consultation on Literacy in Primary Schools (November 1999)

Safety and Security in Schools (2003)

The Ocho Rios Declaration (from the Early Childhood Conference)

The Ocho Rios Communiqué (from the North American and Caribbean Regional Conference)

These activities are all done in an effort to heighten the awareness of teachers of their responsibilities to the profession, their need to be active participants and display high levels of professionalism.

Maintain Contact with peers

Know key players in Association ( Officers, Admin Staff etc)

Join Committees

Read and apply information gleaned

Be involved in your District and Parish Associations

Participate in as many activities as possible

The Contact Teacher wins respect when he/she has information , knows the structure and shares the information on the Professional Programmes and Services of the JTA with her members

The Contact Teacher wins respect when he/she is EFFECTIVE and EFFICIENT

Being a Successful , Efficient and Effective Contact Teacher means empowering others through strong effective and active leadership.

Lets go for it

THANKS FOR BEING HERE

…..THANKS FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION

NOW!...... ITS UP TO YOU …… God Bless you as we continue to unite and Serve.