What about pension for early childhood teachers?
THE EDITOR, Madam:
THE NARRATIVE concerning a pension/retirement plan for early-childhood teachers or practitioners (as they are called) needs now to be advanced and translated into the necessary policy/act to enable the programme for this marginalised group in the education sector.
January 31, 2020 marked victory for workers in the tourism sector. Good job, Mr Ed Bartlett, for caring so much to push for the workers in your sector to have a little peace of mind for when the inevitable old age kicks in.
But who is fighting for the cause of teachers who are at the bottom of the education sector pyramid?
It is unthinkable that these professionals, who are the first point of contact and the first giver of formal education to our babies and little ones, can be treated with such scant regard for their future well-being. And not only their future, but their meagre wage can barely provide for their daily subsistence let alone allow them to engage in any meaningful contribution to a retirement plan with a private financial institution. The Government must step in, urgently, to help.
It is a shame that after a teacher spent 15 to 20 years in the sector and upon retirement, all he or she gets is a letter thanking him/ her for the service rendered, and that’s that. What is the role of the Early Childhood Commission (ECC)? Is it just to regulate, come up with policies and ensure that standards are met? Doesn’t the ECC care at all about the welfare of the practitioners?
PAY A MOCKERY
When I examine the amount of work that these teachers do on a daily basis, to teach and care for the young children, I marvel. They are not only teachers … they are parents, nurses, counsellors, you name the myriad roles they fulfil to make our children grow into bright aspiring pupils. The least the Government can do is to secure retirement benefits for them.
Their monthly pay is a mockery. Between what the schools pay them and the subsidy through the ECC, they barely take home $40,000 (on average).
I am still at a lost why this group of workers is not properly cared for, because I work at a school and even the ancillary workers are on a pension scheme and get group health insurance.
Let us arrange for these welldeserved public-sector workers to have a pension scheme. What about the government group health plan for them as well?
I am sorry, but I think this is basic.