STRUCTURES AND SERVICES OFFERED TO
TEACHERS
The
JTA
is
a
democratic
organization dedicated to the
professional, financial and social
advancement of its members and
the promotion of the highest
educational standards for the
country.
To be the regional benchmark for
teacher membership organizations;
setting standards of excellence in
service delivery and committed to
national
development
through
education.
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
The JTA was founded on April 2, 1964.
The instruments governing membership
and procedures of the body were examined
and ratified at the inaugural conference
held on April 2, 1964.
The resolutions constituting the Association
were passed at a special conference at
Excelsior High School on December 14,
1963.


The Association was formed from the
merger of five teachers’ associations that
existed up to April 2, 1964.
Jamaica
Union
of
Teachers
(JUT),
Association
of
Headmasters
and
Headmistresses (H2M2), the Association of
Teachers in Technical Institutions (ATTS)
and the Association of Assistant Masters
and Mistresses (A2M2)


These five associations pursued parallel and
separate objectives until the late 1950s when
proposal to unify began to take shape.
Major factors that gave impetus to the
unification of the teachers’ unions into the
Jamaica Teachers’ Association.
The major factors included:



Jamaica’s attainment of selfgovernment in 1957.
The introduction of the free place
system
The draft bill to regulate the education
system.



Consequently, the executives of the five
groups formed the Joint Executives of
Teachers’ Associations (JETA).
The JETA was mandated to make
representation on matters related to
education and teachers.
In pursuance of this, the group decided to
unify into a single teachers’ organization.
 To
promote the educational interests of the
country and keep the public informed
concerning important educational matters.
 To
promote and maintain unity in the
teaching profession and safeguard the
interests of its matters.
 To
help in the maintaining of high ethical
standards among all teachers.
 To
make representation on matters on
common interests and concern to teachers
at all levels.
 To
represent to the Ministry of Education
the teachers’ ideas and experience on
educational issues.
 To
establish relationships with Teachers’
Organizations throughout the world.



The JTA is administered by a group of elected
officers and professional staff.
The elected group is headed by the
Presidents, i.e. President, President-Elect and
Immediate Past President.
The other elected officials represent Parish
and District Associations.
THE SECRETARIAT
SECRETARY GENERAL
SENIOR SECRETARY,
MEMBER SERVICES
SENIOR SECRETARY
ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE
SECRETARY BUSINESS
SERVICES

The District Association (DA) is the level at
which all teachers have the opportunity to
participate
in
policy
formation
and
programmes of the Association.

There are seventy-six District Associations
and fourteen Parish Associations.

The
Annual
Conference
of
delegates
determine the policies of the Association.


The General Council made up of the
Parish and District Associations meets
quarterly and acts on the behalf of the
conference.
The Central Executive meets monthly
and monitors the implementation of
policies and programmes.

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The professional staff is headed by
the Secretary General who directs the
daily functions, administrations of the
Association.
The Secretary General is supported by
Secretaries responsible for specific
areas of the Association’s work.
These are:
 Administration and Finance

Member Services

Business Services

Professional Services
 There
also four Regional
Offices.
These are located in
Mandeville, Port Maria, Montego
Bay and at the Head Office in
Kingston.
 JTA Liaison Officer
 The
are
Head Office is located at 97B
Church Street.
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS



Negotiates with Government
salaries and fringe benefits.
for
Keeps under scrutiny the operations
of the Education Laws and the
regulations derived from them as
these relate to the conditions of
service of teachers.
Seeks to improve the conditions under
which teachers work.
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS cont’d.
 Represents
concerns
of
teachers to the Ministry of
Education.
 Provide
advice to teachers to
personal
and
professional
matters.
ECONOMIC SERVICES
 Investment
Schemes managed by
the JTA Allied Groups
 Motor Vehicle Insurance
 Airline booking
 Discount from major business
enterprises
 Overseas and local tours
 Business Advice and Marketing
Services

Scholarships, notably the A. Wesley
Powell Memorial Scholarship for
Teachers.

Co-ordinates scholarships
Private Sector.
for

Victoria Mutual Building Society

T.I.P. Friendly Society

Kingston Bookshop
the
Awards to Teachers

Roll of Honour

W.B.C. (Ben) Hawthorne

Edith Dalton-James

R.C. Tavares

Golden Torch

Prime Minister’s
 Part-time
Professional Certificate
in Education Administration and
Supervision.
 New Teachers’ Seminars
 Leadership Seminars
 Pre Retirement Seminars
 Computer Course


The JTA Co-operative Credit Union created
for JTA members as a source of credit at a
reasonable rate of interest for productive and
provident purposes.
Its head office is at 97A Church Street,
telephone: 922-6841, 922-2009, 922-2011.
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The JPH is a wholly-owned subsidiary
of JTA.
The company publishes
textbooks for readers at primary,
secondary and tertiary levels that
regional in content and focus.
Its head office is at 97B Church
Street, Kingston.
The
Jamaica
Teachers’
Association functions both as a
Trade Union and a Professional
Organization.
1.
2.
3.
negotiates improved salaries
fringe benefits for its members;
and
negotiates conditions of service, e.g.
working environment, job security,
insurance and vacation;
guarantees
victimization;
freedom
from
4.
5.
6.
provides support on professional,
personal and other matters to
teachers;
provides membership education;
establish links with international
organizations to form powerful
lobby group.
1.
2.
promote the educational interests
of the country and keep the public
informed
concerning
important
educational matters;
promote and maintain unity in the
teaching profession and safeguard
the interest of its members
3.
4.
5.
6.
help in maintain high
professional
standards
teachers;
ethical
among
and
all
make representations on matters of
common interest and concern to teachers
at all levels;
represent to the Ministry of Education the
teachers and experience on educational
issues;
establish
relationships with teachers’
unions throughout the world.
Professional Services
 Provides scholarships
 Conducts Pre-retirement Seminars
 Offers Professional Relations Services
 Provides a teacher resource centre
 Hosts conferences
 Hosts Contact Teachers’ Seminars
 Co-ordinates scholarships for the Private
Sector
Professional services cont’d.
 Provides awards to teachers
 Promotes in-service education
through seminars, workshops and
short courses
 Hosts part-time certificate
courses in Education
Administration and Supervision
 Hosts New Teachers’ Seminars
 Hosts Leadership Seminars
The JTA provides:
 Overseas and local tours
 Business Advice and Counselling
 Marketing Services
 Airline Booking
 Discount from major business
enterprises
 and promotes investments schemes
managed by the JTA and Allied
Groups
a.
The Code of Ethics
and programmes offered by
b. The Professional Services Unit
The Constitution of the JTA stipulates
the among the objectives of the
Association is the promotion of high
professional,
ethical
and
moral
standards among teachers. The Cod of
Ethics is one of the ways by which the
Association seeks to accomplish this
objective.
The Code of Ethics came into effect in
1977 after intensive and extensive
discussion of the draft circulated to
schools,
Parish
and
District
Associations.
It was amended by
Annual conference in 1992.
It is a tool to assist teachers in
evaluating their behaviour and conduct.
The Preamble states that:
“The teacher recognizes the magnitude
of the responsibility inherent in the
teaching process. The necessity to earn
the respect and confidence of one’s
colleagues, students, parents and the
members of the community.”
Provides the incentive to attain and
maintain the highest possible degree of
ethical conduct.
The Code of Ethics sets standards of
conduct for teachers in Jamaica.
‘Teacher’ refers to both teachers and
principals.
It speaks to five (5) sets of
Principles.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
In relation
In relation
In relation
In relation
General
to
to
to
to
students
colleagues
the Association
employers
The Code of Ethics applies to all
members
of
the
Association.
Complaint of violation of the principles
made to the Association by any person
or group may be regarded as a charge
of unprofessional conduct and shall be
investigated
by
the
Association
through the proper channels.
The JTA’s impact on the profession
and professionalism can be viewed
through its achievements over the
years.
Some programmes already completed:
Printing of :
* Study Circle Basic Material
* Study Circle 2nd level materials
* Study Circle – Papers on special issues,
e.g. HIV/AIDS, Pensions,
Corporal
Punishment in Schools, etc.
* JTA Code of Ethics
* The Professional Organization Representing
Teachers in Jamaica
* Consultation on Literacy in Primary Schools
* Hosting of Conferences on
- Primary Education
- Secondary Education
- Educational Management and Supervision
- Managing Classroom Behaviour, 21st
Century
Challenges, Approaches and
Solutions
- Strategies for Success – Reaching Every
Learner
- Middle Managers ( Vice Principals/Senior
Teachers)
* Volumes of ‘The Clarion’ – Professional
magazine of the JTA.
* Updated Discount List (2009 – 2010)
* Early Childhood Conference supported by the
Commonwealth Secretariat.
* Summer courses for Principals/Vice
Principals/Senior Teachers in collaboration
with the Canadian Teachers’ Federation
* North American and Caribbean
Regional Conference.
* Interactive Personality Awareness
Workshop
* Mediation Training (1988 – first
institution to be involved in Conflict
Resolution and Mediation through
islandwide workshops)
* Workshop on Crisis Management.
Production of JTA Reporter
 Production of JTA Bulletin
 Production of Trail Blazer series
 Special Conference each year focusing
on current issues
 Teachers’ Time Programme (done on a
weekly basis)
 Helen Stills Professional Development
Day


New
Teachers’
Seminars
(serve
as
recruitment, introduction and professional
development).

Contact Teachers’ Seminars

Computer Training Programmes

Hosting of teachers in HIV/AIDS Prevention.

Leadership Training through the League for
the Exchange of Commonwealth Teachers
(LECT) which takes place in Britain.
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Aspects of Protocol and Events Planning
The Association also collaborates in the
hosting of the EduVision Conference
Professional
Development
conferences
hosted by:
- Education International
- American Federation of Teachers
The JTA has over the years been associated
with International and Regional organizations
including the Caribbean Union of Teachers
(CUT),
the
World
Confederation
of
Organizations of the Teaching Profession
(now renamed EI formed in 1992 from a
merger of WCOTP and International Free
Teachers’ Union), the National Union of
Teachers, National Education Association,
Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF)
and the Swedish Teachers’ Union
Lararforbundet).
The JTA has a proud record of
influencing governments and private
sector policies.
The Association continues to respond to
the needs of the teachers through
various media. Recommendations from
the conferences are shared with the
Ministry
of
Education
for
implementation.

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The Consultation on Literacy in Primary
Schools (November 1999)
Safety and Security in Schools (2003)
The Ocho Rios Declaration (from the Early
Childhood Conference)
The Ocho Rios Communiqué (from the
North American and Caribbean Regional
Conference)
These activities are all done in an
effort to heighten the awareness of
teachers of their responsibilities to
the profession, their need to be
active participants and display high
levels of professionalism.

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Maintain Contact with peers
Know key players in Association ( Officers, Admin
Staff etc)

Join Committees

Read and apply information gleaned
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Be involved in your District and Parish Associations
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Participate in as many activities as possible
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The Contact Teacher wins respect when
he/she has information , knows the structure
and shares the information on the
Professional Programmes and Services of the
JTA with her members
The Contact Teacher wins respect when
he/she is EFFECTIVE and EFFICIENT

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Being a Successful , Efficient and
Effective Contact Teacher means
empowering others through strong
effective and active leadership.

Lets go for it
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THANKS FOR BEING HERE

…..THANKS FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION
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NOW!...... ITS UP TO YOU …… God Bless you
as we continue to unite and Serve.