Parents urged to "Get on board"

One week before the start of the 2016-2017 academic year, the Barbados National Council for Parent Teachers Association (BNCPTA) has been highlighting the need for parents and teachers to maintain strong relationships in the interest of their children.
The BNCPTA addressed the mater this weekend when it hosted its “Get on Board” tour, in collaboration with the Transport Board.
“This is all designed really to encourage parents to get on board with the PTAs at the domestic level, get on board with their children’s life at the school…and also to support the Transport Board,” President of the BNCPTA Shone Gibbs told Barbados TODAY.

President of the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) Pedro Shepherd attended the bus ride and commended the initiative.
“I think it’s a good idea for not only for the [B]NCPTA, but other organizations can do things like these. I think this is an opportunity for the [B]NCPTA to promote itself and the Transport Board as well to join in the promotion,” he said.
The activity was also an opportunity for the Transport Board to inform parents and children about the bus schedules and services offered.

Shepherd suggested that a system be put in place to further accommodate children, saying students should not have to compete with the general public for transportation.
“I would also like to see the day when we have designated school buses for the school children of Barbados.”
Shepherd added that teachers are ready for the start of the new school year, although there are still some issues to be dealt with before they return to the classroom.
“They’re still some outstanding matters of course that we would want addressed before school starts, but if those matters are not addressed I believe that teachers are still going to be on the job,” Shepherd said. (KW)