Newly appointed President of the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) Rudy Lovell is calling on Government to urgently address the outstanding issues plaguing the school system as teachers and students prepare for a return to face-to-face teaching on February 21.
He has also made it clear, against the backdrop of last weekend’s protest by parents and students over the delay of the full reopening of schools, that while educators are not opposed to returning to the classrooms, they want to make sure that is done within a safe environment as COVID-19 continues to impact the country.
“The Barbados Union of Teachers empathises with parents at this difficult time. We want to reassure the public that teachers are willing to get back to the classroom for face-to-face instruction, but only when it is safe to do so. Teachers are parents too, and we understand the challenges; however, we are sure that everyone understands our desire for safe spaces for the benefit of the teaching and learning process,” said Lovell.
He said he was looking forward to teachers’ unions meeting with Ministry of Education officials later this week on the matter of a safe return to the classroom setting.
He outlined that a safe return would include strategically placed hand sanitiser dispensers around the school plants and the provision of surgical masks for teachers and students to help limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
“The BUT would like the provision of masks for teachers and for those students who cannot afford to purchase them. Cloth masks were previously provided. However, this time we are requesting N95 or KN95 masks. We would also like to ensure that school plants are properly outfitted to face the challenges that can result in a return to school with a presence of COVID-19,” the BUT head said.
He also noted that bathrooms at several schools were in need of repairs and missing windows needed to be replaced in several classrooms.
During Saturday’s protest, some parents expressed the view that teachers were reluctant to return to school and suggested that if classroom size was a concern, officials could “put tents out, move some of the classrooms outside, and put staff to match”.
Dismissing the idea that teachers were averse to resuming face-to-face teaching, Lovell said while classroom size remained a concern, especially in the current environment, the union was prepared to first hear what measures the Ministry of Education plans to implement.
“At one point they were saying three feet for secondary schools and six feet for primary schools, but we have to wait and hear if that is still the case,” he said.
“The Barbados Union of Teachers has been saying from day one that we are willing and ready to go back to school but we want to do so under safe conditions, so that would suggest that we were ready to go back to school from ever since,” he added.
Lovell said that during the meeting with Ministry of Education officials, his union also hoped to put the issue of violence in schools and plant maintenance on the table.
“The Barbados Union of Teachers would like to see the Ministry of Education Technological and Vocational Training come up with a comprehensive maintenance plan for the upkeep of schools, including scheduled repairs and maintenance. The Barbados Union of Teachers is also interested in the development of the learning recovery plan to assist students in recouping some of the learning time lost over the past two years,” the union head said.
Lovell explained that while all students have been negatively affected by the pandemic, those undertaking technical and vocational studies were especially impacted.
“I can tell you that teachers are concerned that students in the technical and vocational areas are not being able to do their practicals because they would need to be on the school compound because they don’t have the resources at home,” he said.
Lovell, who was elected as BUT president last Saturday, said one of the issues he would be addressing for teachers in the near term is professional development, including public speaking, to “enhance their ability, skills, and knowledge”.
“The BUT is also asking the Ministry of Education Technological and Vocational Training to schedule quarterly meetings with the Barbados Union of Teachers to address the many issues faced by the teaching profession,” added the educator of over two decades.
marlonmadden@barbadostoday.bb
