THERE are no plans to bring in more supply teachers from the UK as classes now have cover, the Children’s and Education Minister has said.
Deputy Inna Gardiner explained that her priority was to focus on recruiting full-time members of staff and that she was continuing work to ‘streamline bureaucracy’ in order to reduce the red tape for teachers seeking to work in the Island.
Last week, she announced that 11 supply teachers had been flown in from the UK to fill vacancies in Jersey schools after staffing levels were affected by illness amid a spike in winter viruses. Deputy Gardiner said she recognised there were ‘real pressures’ in schools, with the vacancy rate for teachers and teaching assistants in the Island running at 4.13%.
She explained that calling on UK supply teachers amounted to an ‘emergency’ measure and added that her department was working on ‘several directions’ to recruit full-time staff.
‘There is no current plan to increase the number of supply teachers from the UK, at least this term anyway. As far as I’m aware there is a teacher in front of every class and that is the most important thing,’ she said.
‘We are working on several directions and my number-one priority is recruiting full-time staff.
‘We are advertising in the UK, at universities and we want to make clear the benefits of coming to teach in Jersey. We have also been working to connect our services in order to streamline bureaucracy, as before there was too much red tape when trying to recruit teachers. From the point of first contact, to interview, to being offered a job and moving here was taking several months and we are working to bring that time down.’
Deputy Gardiner also said the department was bringing new teachers into the system through the Jersey Graduate Teacher Training Programme, which saw 23 Islanders enrol last year – more than the previous three years combined.
She added: ‘There is also work ongoing across our population and skills ministerial group and an action plan is under development to help recruit Islanders who have studied abroad back to Jersey.’
Earlier this month, the States Employment Board announced it was offering civil servants and other public sector employees a 7.9% pay rise. While civil servants overwhelmingly accepted the offer, other public sector employees, including the teaching unions, have yet to do so.
Teaching union representatives met the States Employment Board on Monday, but no significant progress was made, according to Marina Mauger of the NASUWT.
With teachers having previously called for a pay rise of 15.4%, compared with the SEB’s offer of 7.9%, Mrs Mauger said the two parties were still the same distance apart following the most recent talks.
She added: ‘We made strong representations and we believe that the recruitment and retention crisis being experienced in Jersey strengthens our case.’
Mrs Mauger added that she hoped to hear from the government before the end of the week, and that unions would then be likely to consult members about the next course of action.
Deputy Gardiner said: ‘The teacher pay settlement is still ongoing with the SEB and so it is not my place to comment, but I hope a resolution can be found quickly.’
