There is an increase in the number of Cuban teachers in the Jamaican education system.

Twenty-nine teachers arrived in the country yesterday and will be deployed across the seven regions of the education ministry.

The 29 teachers and a coordinator will bring to 75, the number of Cubans in the education system.  

This the first time so many teachers have arrived from Cuba over the years.

The increase in the number of Cuban teachers comes as the ministry recruits overseas teachers to fill vacancies for the upcoming school year.

A number of Jamaican teachers have resigned and taken up better paying jobs overseas.

The new teachers who are undergoing four days of orientation will be deployed to their new schools on Friday. 

They will be teaching Spanish at both the primary and secondary levels, Physics, Chemistry, Integrated Science and Mathematics. 

One of the 75 Cubans already in the system is teaching French.

Assistant Chief Education Officer for Standards Development in the School Operation and School Improvement Services Branch, Dr. Olivine Evans, says the partnership with Cuba has served Jamaica well over the past 27 years. 

The teachers have a two year contract with the option for a third year extension based on their performance.

In excess of 530 teachers have taught in Jamaica under the programme with Cuba.