No brain drain

The Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) says that despite being in talks with officials in Virginia who are considering recruiting Barbadian teachers to work in public schools there, it will not do so to the detriment of the island’s education system.

BUT president Rudy Lovell gave the assurance as he confirmed that the union has had discussions with education authorities in Fairfax County on the matter, with further talks planned.

Barbados TODAY reported in its Tuesday edition that the Ministry of Education was in discussions with authorities in Fairfax County Public Schools about possibly hiring qualified Barbadian teachers to deal with staff shortages in public schools there. According to all-news radio station and website WTOP News in Virginia, the BUT was also involved in the discussions on the potential three-phase partnership.

Lovell told Barbados TODAY on Wednesday that the union and Fairfax County Public Schools had two discussions and a third was upcoming. However, he said talks were still at a sensitive stage and he did not want to delve into too much detail.

“Nothing is concrete as yet. The union has had initial talks with Fairfax County Schools with the view of them looking to recruit to work in their city district, but no assurances have been given,” he said.

“While we will try to facilitate where possible, we are also cognisant that we don’t want to facilitate a brain drain in certain subject areas. So, if it is a case where persons are trying and are not in the system as yet because there are no vacancies and they can make the requirement for Fairfax School District, yes, we will facilitate it. This would provide an opportunity for them to get some experience and also get an income.

“On the other hand, where persons are desirous of working in the [Fairfax] school district and are appointed in the school system [here], they would have to seek leave from the Ministry of Education or, if they are so confident that they want to go, they will have to resign from their position.”

Lovell said some of the terms and conditions of employment in the third-highest paying school district in America were attractive, but suggested that it would be easier, and perhaps more suitable, for teachers who recently received certification from Erdiston Teachers’ Training College to take advantage of the offer.

The Fairfax public school system which serves a student population of more than 180 000 has advertised for teachers in Biology, English, History & Social Studies, Spanish, Mathematics, and Business & Information Technology, among other disciplines.

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb