By: Myesha Broadie and Georgetta Williams

The Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) says if the Teaching Council Bill, in its current form, becomes law, it will be difficult to enforce and costly for the government to finance.

President Dr. Mark Smith made the statement at a press conference following a meeting of the association’s Action Committee this morning, which was called to determine the way forward on the bill.

The JTA has rejected the current bill aimed at regulating the teaching profession, which was approved by the Senate on April 25 with 38 amendments.

This comes after 21 years of discussion on the bill.

It is expected to return to the Lower House for further approval.

Once enacted, the legislation will give unregistered teachers two years to register with the JTC.

Speaking at today’s briefing, Dr. Smith warned about creating laws that cannot be enacted.

He said with over 25,000 public sector teachers, the registration will be hard to manage.

Meantime, the JTA has taken issue with the number of educators on the Jamaica Teaching Council.

This is one of several concerns the JTA has raised amid debate over the bill.

Speaking at a press conference today, Dr. Mark Smith lamented that the council comprises 31 members; however, only six of them can be educators.

He says there cannot be regulation without effective representation.