If Jamaica does not immediately move to address the teacher shortage issue affecting public schools, the country will be in a critical state, in the next three years.

This, according to President of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association, Leighton Johnson.

He says government needs to seriously look into how it will retain teachers.

The comments come amidst increased migration of teachers in recent months, and also reports that some educators have left the profession for other, more lucrative, fields.

Mr Johnson notes that there are already shortages in some critical subject areas.

He was speaking at a meeting of the Rotary Club of New Kingston on Friday.