Revocation of teachers’ licences to be final under JTC Bill
THE technical team at the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel (OPC) has decided that the revocation of a teacher’s licence under the proposed Jamaica Teaching Council (JTC) Bill is final.
This followed previous deliberations of the joint select committee (JSC) of Parliament reviewing the JTC Bill as to whether revocation will be final or for a certain period. The committee had asked that the OPC make a determination on the matter. The OPC disclosed its decision during Thursday’s committee meeting.
Government committee member and Member of Parliament for Trelawny Northern Tova Hamilton had first raised the question of the finality of a revocation during the JSC’S meeting on May 4. Members were discussing Clause 61 of the Bill which states that the registration or licence of a teacher, or the authorisation to teach of an instructor, may be revoked either for a specified period not exceeding two years, or until the fulfilment of a specified condition.
“Isn’t a revocation supposed to be final? Can you come back from a revocation? This is not a suspension now, enuh, so if somebody commits a criminal offence and is convicted and the person’s licence is revoked, that person can come back into the classroom?” she queried then.
“You shouldnt be able to come back from a revocation. There should be no limit about two years or anything. If it’s revoked, it’s revoked,” she added, suggesting that the provision be re-examined.
At Thursday’s meeting the OPC reported that drafting instructions have been provided to make amendments to the legislation, and an updated Bill will be presented to the committee at the next sitting.
However, through a message on Zoom Sherice Spence of the Law Reform Department (LRD) voiced the unit’s objection to the Bill stipulating that revocation of a licence is final.
In the meantime, committee members also discussed the time frame within which a decision can be made about whether a teacher’s licence is revoked or suspended.
The Bill had stipulated that this should be done within seven days but the committee has agreed that there should be no time limit, and recommended that “within a reasonable time” be used instead.