BUT victory: 18 of the 22 temporary teachers on the job Monday

Eighteen of the 22 temporary teachers who had found themselves out of jobs ahead of the upcoming school term will return to the classroom come Monday.

Making the disclosure to Barbados TODAY Saturday afternoon, Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) President Rudy Lovell said that all but four of the temporary teachers have been reassigned.

“Since the story broke, the Barbados Union of Teachers has been in constant contact with the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training, and we were provided with an update [Friday]. We were told that only four teachers out of the 22 had not been reassigned as yet, and we have every confidence that this week, efforts will be made to reassign the remaining four teachers,” he stated.

The union welcomed the news as it had highlighted that the island’s primary schools would be severely understaffed if the teachers, whose contracts had not been renewed over the summer break, were not rehired.

Lovell made the comments after emerging from talks with senior education ministry officials, including acting Education Minister Kirk Humphrey and Chief Education Officer Dr Ramona Archer-Bradshaw at the St John Primary School, where sources say that environmental issues are once again raising some concerns.

While not giving any details on the issues discussed in the meeting, when he was questioned as to whether all schools would open on Monday as scheduled, the union boss said that the acting education minister had given this assurance.

Also tightlipped about the reasons behind the meeting, Bradshaw said the ministry would issue a statement later on Saturday.

(JB)