The Ministry of Education wishes to respond to the disruptions in some of the schools which have been inflated and under normal circumstances would have been resolved by the administrators and teachers at the affected institution. We wish to commend teachers for their dedicated service and willingness to work with the Ministry in the past to resolve issues which sometimes cause minor inconveniences.


In recent times, however, it seems as if minor incidents have escalated into major crises and have interrupted the normal operation in our schools due to teachers withholding their services. It seems as if the Teachers Union is deliberately interfering with the course of education and encouraging teachers to withhold their services. According to General Order 1047 this is not a course of action that should be taken, and teachers should return to their classrooms to perform their duties. Additionally, the Industrial Agreement provides for the Ministry of Education to be given collectively thirty (30) days to resolve any issue after a grievance has been filed before any industrial action is undertaken.


In the matter of Carlton E. Francis Primary School, the Ministry was informed only yesterday, that teachers held a sit-in to protest a shortage of teachers; no soap in the bathrooms and a problem with the septic tank in the pre-school unit.


The Ministry would like the public to know that these matters have already been addressed and that subject coordinators are mandated to fill any shortfall in the teaching staff. Secondly the septic tank was repaired as of Wednesday, 7th October, 2009. As for the lack of soap in the bathroom, schools are provided with funds through their school boards to provide supplies and additionally each district has a Physical Plant Officer at the Ministry to address any concerns that the schools have. Finally, the Ministry is aware that a teacher at the school will be going on maternity leave in January 2010 and is already seeking to have her class assigned to a supply or substitute teacher.


The Ministry is calling on teachers to be mindful of their priority which is to teach and ensure the provision of education to the students in their care. They are also calling on parents to become more involved in the operation of the schools to ensure that their children are not disadvantaged because of minor incidents that can be resolved by all concerned parties in the educational process.


Contact:

Ministry of Education

P. O. Box N-3913

Phone: 502- 2708

Fax: 356 -0007