Teacher Shortage in the Caribbean and Latin America

Teaching in the Caribbean may appear to be idyllic, but it is surprisingly difficult to recruit and keep teachers in the Caribbean and Latin America. Image public domain.

UNESCO Report Highlights Teacher Shortage

UNESCO has released a new global report showing a serious shortage of teachers in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The report was launched on April 4, 2025, with the help of the Teacher Task Force, Chile’s Ministry of Education, and the SM Foundation. It was presented during a major regional forum on sustainable development at ECLAC.

The main message was clear: without teachers, there is no good education. And without education, there is no long-term development. The report looks closely at the teaching profession and shows both its problems and opportunities.

Worldwide, 44 million more teachers are needed to meet education goals by 2030. In Latin America and the Caribbean, the region needs 3.2 million more teachers. Many are needed to replace those who quit because of too much work, low pay, and lack of respect.

Call to Action

Esther Kuisch Laroche, UNESCO’s regional director in Santiago, said that action is needed right away. She asked governments to improve conditions for teachers, offer better training, and give more recognition to the profession.

Chile’s Education Minister, Nicolás Cataldo Astorga, also spoke at the event. He said teachers face many challenges and that urgent action is needed to meet education goals by 2030. He supported working together on concrete plans that focus on each region’s needs.

New Strategy for Teachers in the Region

UNESCO also introduced a new strategy for the years 2025 to 2030. The plan focuses on:

Better training for new and current teachers
Fair working conditions
Stronger leadership and independence for schools
Giving teachers a voice in decisions
More respect and value for teachers’ work

These steps aim to attract more people to become teachers and to keep current teachers from leaving.

St. Maarten’s Initiative to Reverse Brain Drain

One island nation has a plan to reverse the brain drain affecting teachers and other professionals.

St. Maarten has unveiled a package of financial and logistical incentives aimed at luring skilled professionals and students back to the island.

The initiative offers returnees substantial support, including relocation allowances, paid airfare, six weeks of complimentary hotel accommodation, and even assistance with shipping personal belongings.

The government hopes this will help reverse the decades-long trend of emigration among the island’s educated workforce, which has left critical gaps in healthcare, education, and technical sectors.

Eligible individuals returning to St. Maarten can receive up to $2,000 in relocation costs, as well as additional payments per child. The program also includes incentives such as salary top-ups to help close the wage gap between St. Maarten and more developed countries, and partial student loan forgiveness for those re-entering the local workforce.

Authorities see the strategy not just as a repatriation plan, but as a key pillar in national development—aimed at strengthening the island’s long-term resilience by restoring its talent pool.

The plan marks one of the most comprehensive efforts in the region to stem the tide of emigration, and its success could set a precedent for other Caribbean nations facing similar challenges.

Sources: Unesco, AP.

Conclusion

The teacher shortage in the Caribbean and Latin America is a pressing issue that requires immediate attention. The UNESCO report highlights the need for 3.2 million more teachers in the region, and the new strategy introduced by UNESCO aims to address this shortage. St. Maarten’s initiative to reverse brain drain is a step in the right direction, and its success could inspire other Caribbean nations to follow suit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many more teachers are needed in Latin America and the Caribbean?

A: 3.2 million more teachers are needed in the region.

Q: What is the main cause of teacher shortage in the region?

A: The main cause of teacher shortage is due to too much work, low pay, and lack of respect for teachers.

Q: What is St. Maarten’s initiative to reverse brain drain?

A: St. Maarten has unveiled a package of financial and logistical incentives aimed at luring skilled professionals and students back to the island, including relocation allowances, paid airfare, and assistance with shipping personal belongings.