[Jamaica] Education Ministry approves $7.87bn in teachers’ leave

Jamaica’s Ministry of Education has approved leave for more than 2,000 teachers for the 2025–2026 academic year, Jamaica Observer reports.

In a July 23 press release, the ministry said the move reflects its continued commitment to workforce wellbeing, professional development, and effective school management.

The ministry stated that the approval follows a thorough review of 2,860 applications for various categories of leave. It said the number of teachers applying for leave has declined compared to the 2022/2023 and 2024/25 academic years, when 2978 and 3197 teachers applied for leave, respectively.

In total, 2,026 teachers have reportedly been approved across four categories of leave. According to the education ministry, the estimated cost of the approved leave is $7.87 billion. This total encompasses direct leave payments and the cost of temporary staff replacements to ensure continuity of instruction in schools.

The ministry detailed the approved leave categories and the number of teachers affected. These were: 

• Four months’ vacation leave - 834 teachers

• Eight months’ vacation leave - 907 teachers

• Study leave - 71 teachers 

• Leave before retirement - 123 teachers

Additionally, the ministry said an additional 91 teachers were approved for eight months’ vacation leave, in a special consideration, despite exceeding the 10 per cent statutory quota.

“This exception was made to facilitate all teachers who were at their maximum of their leave entitlement and [for whom] a denial would have negatively affected future entitlements had they not proceed on leave this academic year,” the ministry’s press statement said.

Six non-academic staff members across three regions have reportedly been granted study leave, at an estimated cost of $17.7 million.

The statement continued, “The ministry reaffirms its commitment to advancing education through sound human resource planning, and encourages all stakeholders to support the smooth implementation of the approved leave schedule for the upcoming academic year, and encourages our administrators to commence their staff replacement process to ensure staff are identified for the new school year.

“A raft of strategies will again be shared with our schools to ensure that all staff are in place to ensure the continuation of quality teaching and learning.” 

Source: Jamaica Observer

(Quotes via original reporting)

Jamaica’s Ministry of Education has approved leave for more than 2,000 teachers for the 2025–2026 academic year, Jamaica Observer reports.

In a July 23 press release, the ministry said the move reflects its continued commitment to workforce wellbeing, professional development, and effective school management.

The ministry stated that the approval follows a thorough review of 2,860 applications for various categories of leave. It said the number of teachers applying for leave has declined compared to the 2022/2023 and 2024/25 academic years, when 2978 and 3197 teachers applied for leave, respectively.

In total, 2,026 teachers have reportedly been approved across four categories of leave. According to the education ministry, the estimated cost of the approved leave is $7.87 billion. This total encompasses direct leave payments and the cost of temporary staff replacements to ensure continuity of instruction in schools.

The ministry detailed the approved leave categories and the number of teachers affected. These were: 

• Four months’ vacation leave - 834 teachers

• Eight months’ vacation leave - 907 teachers

• Study leave - 71 teachers 

• Leave before retirement - 123 teachers

Additionally, the ministry said an additional 91 teachers were approved for eight months’ vacation leave, in a special consideration, despite exceeding the 10 per cent statutory quota.

“This exception was made to facilitate all teachers who were at their maximum of their leave entitlement and [for whom] a denial would have negatively affected future entitlements had they not proceed on leave this academic year,” the ministry’s press statement said.

Six non-academic staff members across three regions have reportedly been granted study leave, at an estimated cost of $17.7 million.

The statement continued, “The ministry reaffirms its commitment to advancing education through sound human resource planning, and encourages all stakeholders to support the smooth implementation of the approved leave schedule for the upcoming academic year, and encourages our administrators to commence their staff replacement process to ensure staff are identified for the new school year.

“A raft of strategies will again be shared with our schools to ensure that all staff are in place to ensure the continuation of quality teaching and learning.” 

Source: Jamaica Observer

(Quotes via original reporting)