BUT calls on churches to provide more support to schools

The Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) today called on churches to provide more support to schools as they continue to help the island’s children prepare for the world transformed by COVID-19.

Union President Pedro Shepherd made the call as he addressed a service to mark the start of Teachers Week 2020 at the St Matthias Anglican Church this morning.

Noting that this year’s celebrations have embraced the theme for World Teachers Day –  “Leading in Crisis; Reimagining the Future, he noted that teachers were challenged to continue to lead and find ways to engage students during the COVID-19 lockdown imposed earlier this year.

“While the nurses, doctors, paramedics and other health-care workers were being lauded the teachers were quietly ensuring that the future was being cared for as we were in effect reimagining the future.  Teachers across Barbados and indeed the globe were leading to ensure that education continued and that our children were prepared for life during and after COVID.

“Of course we thought that by now things would have been back to normal but, that notwithstanding, we have certainly been adapting to what is considered the new normal, he said.

Shepherd said while teachers remain committed to the task and they remain optimistic of a bright future ahead, schools still need support.

“The church as an educational institution also had its challenges, I am sure and has been forced to make adjustments as well.

As teachers we believe that the future remains bright for our young people and we are doing all that we can to ensure students are prepared for the world before them.

Today we call on the church to embrace our schools, work closely with us as we reimagine a future, which might be different but one in which there is hope. We ask for your continued prayer and guidance as we continue to navigate these in chartered waters,” Shepherd said.

Activities marking Teachers’ Week will include Teachers Appreciation Day on Tuesday while The John Cumberbatch Memorial Lecture will be delivered on Wednesday.

Teachers will also benefit from a professional development workshop on Thursday and the President’s reception and awards ceremony will be held on Friday night.

Karaoke and Games Evening takes place on Saturday night.