THE EFFECTS of the global economic meltdown have dealt a severe blow to scores of independent schools in Jamaica, with more than 50 currently facing serious financial problems.

This has forced many of the schools to send home teachers, according to Basil Tabannor, president of the Jamaica Independent Schools Association (JISA).

"Teachers have been laid off and they are not coming to the association this year, they are now going to the Ministry of Education," Tabannor told The Sunday Gleaner.

The JISA president painted a worrying picture of the challenges confronting the sector, as he pointed out that the laying off of teachers was part of measures to keep the doors of the embattled institutions opened.

Growing numbers

Tabannor was reluctant to divulge the number of teachers who have been laid off, but said the numbers were growing.

"It is increasing and if we don't get the sort of assistance that we are seeking, the downsizing will continue," said Tabannor.

At the same time, Colin Blair, director of communications in the Ministry of Education, said the ministry has noticed a trend of independent school teachers visiting the offices for advice. However, he was unable to provide statistics.

"But it is something that we are keeping our eyes on," Blair told The Sunday Gleaner.

He confirmed that some parents were also pulling their students from private schools because they could no longer afford the fees.

At present, more than 100,000 Jamaican children attend an estimated 200 independent schools in Jamaica. Of this number, 50 are said to be struggling to survive.

The Sunday Gleaner has been reliably informed that three independent schools have closed in recent times. One of the three is said to have suffered this demise due to financial hardships.

Increase in school fees

The president said some schools are now contemplating increasing school fees again in April because they are fighting to stay afloat.

"This is not normally the case, as schools either increased fees in September or January, but it's biting hard and people are really feeling the crunch," he said.

The JISA has approached the Ministry of Education for assistance.

Tabannor said he was awaiting a call from Minister of Education Andrew Holness, who had requested information from the association, following a meeting last month.

"We had an understanding that if at all the Government can do anything, we want to do it before the budget (in April)," Tabannor told The Sunday Gleaner.

Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) president, Doran Dixon, said he was not aware of teachers in independent schools being laid off, as he had not got word from any of the educators that his association represents.

The JTA boss said his association would not like to see private schools close their doors because of financial problems, as the Government was not able to provide all the school spaces that were needed in the education system.

Dixon said the JTA would support the Government to assist private schools that are in a difficult spot.

"The fact that the Government has to purchase school space from private schools shows that these schools are important for the system," said Dixon.

A Kingston-based educator at a private school, who spoke with The Sunday Gleaner on condition of anonymity, said most private schools were feeling the pinch from the global financial crisis. He said the reclassification of salaries to teachers in public schools had pressured private educational institutions to offer more competitive rates to their staff.

Direct impact

The educator said the massive redundancies taking place in the private sector was having a direct impact on independent schools.

Last month, Opposition Spokesman on Education Basil Waite and Government Senator Hyacinth Bennett urged the Bruce Golding administration to place greater emphasis on the sustenance and development of independent schools.

Senator Waite, while debating a private member's motion moved by him, suggested that the Government provide concessionary loans for the development of independent schools.

The Upper House approved the resolution calling for the establishment of a task force to examine ways in which financing could be sourced, at significantly reduced rates, for the development of private schools.

During the parliamentary debate in February, Senator Bennett, who runs the Hydel group of schools, said the Government should shed its piecemeal approach towards independent schools.

"When I spoke with the president of the association (Jamaica Independent Schools Association), the picture that he painted of a number of independent schools is rather gloomy as well as frightening," she informed her colleagues.