Jamaican High Commissioner to London, Burchell Whiteman, is seeking an extension of the contracts of Jamaican teachers in the United Kingdom (U.K.), which will allow them to meet the required standard and continue their employment.

Whiteman, who is the former Minister of Education, wrote a proposal to the British government on behalf of the teachers, many of whomhave been in Britain for four years or more, and have not met their Qualified Teachers Status (QTS).

The QTS is the accreditation that enables teachers to teach in the state-maintained and special schools in the U.K.

He said: "Given what has been claimed and, namely, that many of these teachers are still needed by their schools, and given the obvious inappropriateness of any suggestion that the (overseas recruitment) policy should be reversed or indefinitely suspended, consideration could be given to a one-year extension for all teachers and that for a further year, only those schools, which continue to require the services of those who are still in need of more time, should be allowed to recommend extensions for their members of staff."

No unnecessary confrontation

Alluding to various measures of recourse planned by the teachers, which have come to his knowledge, High Commissioner Whiteman sought to discourage the teachers and said he was not in support of what he described as unnecessary confrontation with the UK government and its agencies.

The high commission is encouraging the formation of a Jamaica Teachers' Association UK and has facilitated several planning and other meetings of the group.