Employment retention

Ministry boosts employees with pay upgrades

THE Ministry of Education has successfully concluded its employee retention exercise initiative nationwide, aimed at enhancing retention within the education workforce. This significant move highlights the ministry’s unwavering dedication to cultivating a highly proficient and motivated workforce dedicated to advancing education across the country.

After a comprehensive assessment conducted jointly by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Education, it has been confirmed that 1420 staff members are set to undergo regularisation, beginning from pay six, amounting to $1.6million. Furthermore, salary adjustments, including step-up movements, will be implemented for 739 Early Childhood Education teachers, 3993 primary and secondary assistant teachers, and 152 non-teaching staff members starting from pay seven, along with arrears from pay six, totalling $3m.

Although the ministry initially planned to execute the salary adjustments from pay six, the transition and upgrade of the Government Payroll System led to a minor delay in the process. This initiative seamlessly aligns with the Ministry of Civil Services circulars 02/2024 and 05/2024, along with the finance circular issued on March 7, 2024, which was circulated to all ministries, ensuring strict compliance with established frameworks and guidelines.

Permanent secretary for the Education Ministry, Selina Kuruleca, emphasised the verifications and selections were thoroughly done by the ministry’s taskforce.

“Through rigorous verifications and selection procedures, the ministry’s taskforce team has successfully identified individuals possessing the requisite knowledge, experience, skills, and ability to positively contribute to the development of our education sector,” she said.