Recruitment of overseas teachers… Discussions at preliminary stage

Feb 22, 2011 News

– TSC Chairman

Although the details have not yet been finalised, the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) has already started its own research as it relates to the recruitment of overseas Mathematics and Science teachers for the public education system.
This disclosure was made by TSC Chairman, Leila Ramson, during an invited comment yesterday. Though unwilling to divulge much to this newspaper, Ramson said that the TSC will have to collaborate extensively with the Ministry of Education before the details of the recruitment drive can be finalised and implemented.
Following Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon’s announcement during his most recent press briefing that Government has plans to recruit overseas teachers, President Bharrat Jagdeo had declared that the process will not be final until after discussions are held between the Government and the TSC.

TSC Chairman, Mrs Leila Ramson

But according to Ramson yesterday, “The details are still being worked out and it is only at the preliminary level right now. At this stage we haven’t even met with the Ministry of Education as yet but we are hoping to do so shortly,” she added.
She explained that at the moment the TSC is working out its own details as the Ministry of Education undertake a similar task. As part of the TSC’s investigative efforts, the quantum of missing teachers from the target areas are being considered in order to ascertain the urgency of the existing need.
In doing so, Ramson explained that the TSC, which has the responsibility of placing teachers, will have to scrutinise its records to see how many heads of departments are employed to determine how many are yet required within the respective Maths and Science Departments.
This newspaper had reported in September 2009 that although there is a shortage of teachers for the subject areas of Maths and Science in the public education system, the Ministry of Education had made no request for such qualified teachers to the TSC.
This disclosure was made by Ramson during an interview, the details of which were published by this newspaper. The TSC Chairman was however even then confident that requests were likely to be made. She had explained though that the Ministry is not tasked with making the initial request but rather the various Regions through their Regional Education Officer (REO).
“They are the ones that would know what are the existing vacancies in the various schools and the onus is on them (REdO) to then pass this information unto the Ministry which in turn will make a request to the Commission.”
And according to Ramson, the existing vacancies in some schools would usually increase with the promotion of teachers which would have in effect created several more vacant positions.
The TSC is tasked with finding suitably qualified teachers to fill the respective subject areas, a mission which cannot be carried out without a request, Ramson had asserted.
But even as the details of the proposed recruitment drive are being worked out, the TSC is simultaneously working on promotions for senior teachers for this year, Ramson revealed yesterday.
According to her, already copies of applications have started to reach the Commission but the originals are yet to be sent in.