Union reassures on US teaching programme safety

Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) and the Barbados Employment and Career Counselling Service (BECCS) have moved to ease concerns about the safety of local educators and possible brain drain as teachers take up the opportunity to work in the United States.

 

The assurances come amid a recruitment drive for local educators to teach in Fairfax County, Virginia.

 

President of the BUT Rudy Lovell said Fairfax County was safe against the background of school shootings that have become entrenched in American society.

 

There were 83 school shootings in the US as of December 16, 2024. Of those incidents, 27 were on college campuses and 56 were at primary and secondary schools. The shootings left 38 people dead and about 116 people injured.

 

But Lovell said: “There have been no concerns about issues in regards to violence, anything of that nature, from anyone who took part in the programme. There have been no negative reports; everyone speaks about a pleasant experience and having well-disciplined students.”

 

Lovell said that none of the school violence exhibited in other parts of the US had spilled over to the Fairfax County teaching district, located about 20 miles outside Washington DC, or the wider state of Virginia.

 

He added that this teaching opportunity would be a pivotal step in the career development of any educator given the plethora of resources and benefits offered in the programme such as a high salary.

 

Lovell encouraged interested teachers to apply.

 

Last year, 14 teachers took part in the programme which is now in its third year. Officials from the BECCS indicated there was no recruitment quota and that the programme would not create a deficit of teachers in Barbadian schools.

 

The successful teachers in this year’s programme are expected to leave the island in July.

 

On Wednesday, in a nearly two-hour informational meeting held virtually with 130 participants, the director of international recruitment at Participate Learning, Jeff Seaby, said there were several benefits to the teaching programme.

 

He explained that a non-immigrant visa would be granted to participants and their families free of cost. Airfare will be taken care of and assistance will be provided for acquiring an American teaching licence. He added that Fairfax offered a highly competitive salary based on one’s qualifications and experience and there will be a subsidised comprehensive health insurance package.

 

A Barbadian adviser will also be provided and teachers will receive logistical and instructional support.

 

However, Seaby outlined specific conditions.

 

The programme is only available to primary school educators to teach pupils ages five to ten. The applicant must also be currently teaching and must neither be an American citizen nor a permanent resident.

 

Other requirements for the programme include: a university degree in teacher education; at least two years of full-time teaching experience post-graduation with students between the ages of five to 18; a driver’s licence and availability to work in the programme for a minimum of two years.

 

During the meeting, Ryan Smith and Meshell Hinds, who are currently enrolled in the programme, spoke about their experiences and highlighted the training opportunities, unlimited access and availability of teaching material, support initiatives and their transition to living in a new country.

 

Some of the concerns teachers raised in the meeting were about childcare services, the enrollment of school for their children, the application process and the job requirements.

 

Those interested in the programme, especially appointed teachers, were advised to seek leave instead of resigning from service.

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb