Dear Editor,
I am writing this letter after much deliberation and pain about an issue that I am facing since 2017. On 1st September 2017, I was appointed as a Trained Grade 1 Class 1 Mistress (Secondary) at Stewartville Secondary with the January 2015 revised salary per month in the TS:3 scale. However, I should have been appointed with the January 2016 revised salary. Upon receiving my payslip in December 2017, I noticed the salary discrepancy after comparing with my colleagues. My colleagues received the new salary, but I didn’t. Subsequently, a visit was made to the Regional Accounting Unit (RAU) Region #3 in January 2018 where I was told that the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) has to amend my appointment letter. After contacting TSC, a Region #3 clerk explained that TSC cannot amend the letter because the 2016 revised salary was received in December 2017, while I was appointed before that document came. The clerk also stated that RAU Region #3 can rectify my salary using the 2016 revised salary which was sent to all RAUs. This information was conveyed to RAU Region #3 and nothing was done to resolve this issue.
In 2019, the Head Teacher sent a letter to Personnel at Ministry of Education (MOE) which turned out a failure. In 2020, RAU Region #3 corrected many teachers’ salary except mine. In August 2021, I received a letter from the Principal Personnel Officer for the Chief Education Officer at MOE which stated that I was underpaid since 2017. Despite a copy of this letter was sent to the RAU Region #3 to make the necessary changes, the Chief Accountant did not understand what had to be done even though it was explained thoroughly. Again, I was going back and forth. TSC made contact with a staff from RAU Region #3 so the information can be explained to the Chief Accountant. I also made contact with the staff and I am still awaiting a response to date. For this month, October 2021, I received the same underpaid salary. For the past four years, I visited RAU Region #3 many times and observed that some of the staff are behaving as if I am asking them to pay me money that I am rightfully entitled to from their pockets which is very unprofessional. This is absurd. I have proof to support that I am being underpaid.
It is very unfair that teachers who came after me are receiving a higher salary than I am. I have always discharged my duties with pride and confidence regardless of my incorrect salary, but it is now affecting me mentally and breaking my concentration from work. More so, I am now attached to Westminster Secondary where I need to work more diligently in molding the minds of our children. MOE always say that teachers play an important role, but are teachers being treated with the respect that they deserve? I do hope that this letter reaches the right audience so I can have what I am rightfully entitled to.
Sincerely,
Jagwantie Persaud
