Teacher Shortage: Reimagining Education

“The pending teacher shortage is the most critical education issue we will face in the next decade.”- David E. Price. Like most things in the universe the academic year has a rhythm to follow. The hot, humid and often contentious summer holidays went by quickly. The idly schools plants have been dusted off as schools are once again open for the 2023/2024 academic year. The uniforms are all neatly ironed, khakis have been seamed, textbooks have been purchased and most importantly the students and teachers are ready to take on the challenges for another academic year. The 2023/2024 academic year already has a number of unknown quantities that has the propensity to derail the national curriculum. Most among them is the uncertainty regarding teacher availability in general. Many teachers feel disrespected. We have all seen the vacancies in the newspapers as schools try to find staff to fill both temporary and clear vacancies. There was one school that had over 20 clear vacancies for both TVET teachers and teachers for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The results of the 2023 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) have been published and Jamaica is still struggling in the area of Mathematics with 43 per cent of students receiving a passing grade for Mathematics. What is crystal clear is that specialist teachers in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) disciplines are not finding the classroom attractive and undoubtedly this will have implications for subjects such as, Electrical Installation, Plumbing, Auto Mechanics, Carpentry and Joinery and Cosmetology. The push factor for teachers leaving the classroom is the low remuneration and poor working conditions. On the other hand the pull factor for teachers to migrate surrounds attractive salaries and a better standard of living. It is always amazing, sometimes insulting to hear those who are privileged giving advice on matters which are far-removed from their lived experiences. Thinking outside the Box As we continue to count down the days before it is back to school it is critical that we think outside the proverbial box to see how best we can address the cracks within the education system. The fact is there is a teacher shortage especially in strategic areas. Many school districts in the United States of America have now implemented a four day school week. A four-day school week is an alternative to the traditional five-day weekly educational schedule. A four-day schedule involves reducing the number of school days to four, usually from Monday to Thursday, while increasing the length of each school day. The idea of a four-day school week has gained popularity over the last decade. Proponents of a four-day school week argue that it offers several benefits, including cost savings, improved student attendance and increased teacher morale. By reducing the number of school days, schools can save money on transportation, food and energy costs. This can be especially important for rural districts where students may need to travel long distances to get to school. This four day school week would be welcoming in certain rural areas in Jamaica where traditionally students do not attend school. Unfortunately, students in these rural areas are pulled from school on Fridays to assist their parents in income rearing activities for their families usually of an agricultural nature. The National Conference of State Legislatures states that some studies have shown that student attendance improves under a four-day school week. It is rather likely that with a longer weekend, students have more time to rest and engage in extracurricular activities, which can lead to better attendance during the week. This, in turn, can lead to improved academic performance. Furthermore, a four-day school week can help to boost teacher morale. The education system as is does very little to create an atmosphere of empowerment for our teachers; the period January to September have seen fewer than 900 teachers resigning from their positions in the public education system. Sadly, this has a trickledown effect and the students are oftentimes caught in the middle. Many teachers would find useful an extra day to plan lessons, grade assignments and attend professional development opportunities. This new way of reimaging education will empower teachers to feel more prepared and more engaged in their work. This can lead to better job satisfaction, which can translate into better classroom performance. Nearly 900 school districts in the United States currently use a four-day weekly academic schedule. That number rose from 650 districts in 2020 to 876 districts, across 26 states, in 2023. While smaller, rural districts have been more likely to favor the schedule, larger districts are now shortening their school weeks in an effort to recruit and retain teachers. It is a selling point in an era when schools are facing a national teacher shortage. Dale Herl, superintendent of the Independence School District, and his staff has spent months planning for this year's significant calendar change. His district is the largest in the state to move to a four-day schedule. Herl added that in order to comply with state requirements for instructional time, which determines how school calendars are structured, the district will add 35 extra minutes onto each day. Schools in other parts of the United States of America have also noticed similar patterns. In Chico, Texas, where the public school district also announced a shift to four-day academic schedules this year, officials said positions that used to receive five applications were suddenly receiving more than 20. UN Development Goals Alignment. As countries move towards aligning their curriculum with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, there are two targets that appear elusive. Target 4.c states that by 2030, substantially increase the supply of qualified teachers, including through international cooperation for teacher training in developing countries, especially least developed countries and Small Island Developing States and target 4.7 says that by 2030, all learners should acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development. However, if the teacher shortage continues how will meet these targets? Building partnerships and maintaining such partnerships with various stakeholders in the education system will be critical in achieving the UN sustainable goals. Global Concerns. Teaching and learning should not be seen as punitive. The flexibility that comes with a four day school week is appealing. Clearly, the only lasting solution regarding the teacher shortage is to pay teachers a livable wage. Obviously, there is no quick fix to address all the problems within the education system After all the issues that have plagued Jamaica’s elitist education system that caters to a percentage of the populace have been in the making for decades; as a result the solutions will take time. Some of the issues we face as a country do not require us to reinvent the wheel. The issue of teacher shortage is a global one; however, some countries have been rather creative at arriving at workable solutions. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) estimates that 69 million teachers are needed globally to provide universal basic education by 2030. According to the 2021 Economic and Social Survey there are approximately 25, 074 teachers employed in the public school system. Already, there is a cultural tendency in our society to explore North American based solutions in order to arrive at a consensus for our local education system. A good education system requires stability concerning both industrial relations and teacher availability. The problem of crime and violence should be important to all of us. If this is true, the society must then decide whether the current education system is able to mitigate against the prevailing toxic culture that so many of our males ascribe to. Interestingly, many teachers are at a crossroads regarding whether or not to remain in the land of their birth. The fact that North America is actively recruiting our teachers suggests that our teachers are viewed as an asset. May a sense of reciprocal respect be the hallmark of this school year as we work together in order to achieve a transformative educational experience for all this academic year. In the words of William Arthur Ward, teaching is more than imparting knowledge, it is inspiring change. Learning is more than absorbing facts, it is acquiring understanding. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo © #teachershortage #education #backtoschool