Shortage of Teachers on the Rise in Antigua and Barbuda

The shortage of teachers is getting worse due to brain drain and burnout.

According to Sharon Kelsick, General Secretary of the Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers, the departure of even a small number of teachers significantly exacerbates the existing shortage.

As Kelsick said on Connecting with Dave on Observer Radio this week, around eight to nine teachers left the system between March and December last year, worsening the shortage.

Many teachers have chosen to work overseas due to better financial opportunities, allowing them to leave something valuable for their children. However, this leaves behind a significant gap in the education system.

Kelsick also highlights how a lack of mental health support for teachers affects the profession.

Many teachers feel exhausted when they return home and often have to continue working after school hours.

This is known as emotional labor, considered one of the most draining forms of exhaustion, affecting a person’s physical and mental well-being.

Emotional labor may lead to increased stress, burnout, and potential long-term impacts on mental health, such as emotional exhaustion, heightened cortisol levels, and increased anxiety and depression.

Kelsick urges the authorities to provide more support to the educational system before it is too late.

She points out that although there are some really good schools, teachers, and students, more needs to be done, and more financial investment is required. If this does not happen, the educational system may reach a point where there’s no return.

Her comments reflect previous warnings from the union at a rally it staged on World Teachers Day in October, stating that the trend of teachers leaving their positions could lead to a crisis in the country’s education system.

According to the forecast, these winds are expected to continue into Friday evening, but they are generally expected to return to normality overnight into Saturday.

During the week, the winds also caused the Montserrat ferry to suspend services, which is expected to resume on Saturday.

On Thursday, only one vessel was in port, the Windstar, while three vessels, Marella Voyager, Mein Schiff 3, and Seabourne Ovation, are due to arrive on Friday.

Additionally, a military vessel is expected in port on Friday for what is expected to be a “R&R” visit for its crew.