Unions to ministry: Act now to prevent school disruptions

ith the new school year in three weeks, the unions representing the nation’s public primary school teachers and administrators have called on the Ministry of Education to manage potential issues promptly to avoid the disruptions that marred the previous academic year.

The Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) and the Barbados Association of Principals of Public Secondary Schools (BAPPSS) have expressed concerns over the possibility of a repeat of the problems that led to significant learning loss in the 2023/2024 school year, particularly due to environmental problems in aging school buildings.

In separate interviews with Barbados TODAY, BUT President Rudy Lovell and BAPPSS President Stephen Jackman urged immediate action when problems arise, stressing that the ministry’s prompt intervention would help ensure schools remain open and students’ learning is not compromised.

Jackman, the principal of Christ Church Foundation School, said: “We are hoping that as an association we get prompt action when problems are identified, that things are cleaned, so there is minimal disruption at school. Given the age of school buildings, we understand that we are going to have problems, but it is about having a speedy resolution to the problem so that the children of the nation are not disadvantaged.”

Christ Church Foundation School is currently undergoing significant repairs, with Jackman revealing that around $300 000 is being spent on refurbishing two staff rooms, a physics laboratory, and a termite-infested pavilion. The work, which started earlier this month, is expected to be completed in time for the start of the Michaelmas term.

The BUT’s Lovell pointed to the Ministry of Education’s domestic summer programme, aimed at addressing maintenance issues at several primary schools. But, he noted that some planned renovations had been delayed.

“The summer maintenance programme . . . this year was to focus on extensive renovations to some schools, but there were some issues that prevented that work from commencing,” Lovell explained. “I believe that some minor works would have begun at some schools, and we are hoping that that work could be completed before the end of the summer vacation.”

Both union leaders underscored the importance of creating a comfortable environment for teachers and students. “We want to focus on making teachers and students comfortable in the school environment, and we want issues to be addressed as soon as they arise; that is our focus for the 2024/2025 academic school year,” Lovell added.

The last academic year saw numerous environmental issues disrupting classes, including at Ann Hill School, Luther Thorne Memorial Primary, The Lodge School, Gordon Walters Primary, St Bartholomew, and Grantley Prescod Primary. Two schools – The Lester Vaughan School and St John’s Primary – were severely affected. St John’s Primary was forced to close permanently, with staff and students relocated to Mount Tabor Primary, while teachers at Lester Vaughan experienced ongoing respiratory issues linked to severe sewage leaks.

Lovell also raised concerns about the appointment of teachers within the education system, noting that the union would be pressing the Ministry of Public Service and the Ministry of Education to resolve the issue.

“We are compiling a list of those persons who are unappointed in the system. We will be putting a case to the Ministry of Public Service and the Ministry of Education to have those teachers appointed once there are vacancies in the teaching service,” Lovell said. He highlighted the importance of job security, adding: “This is a serious matter because it is about security of tenure. It allows you to transact business with entities in terms of seeking mortgages and loans, and it also gives you a settled mindset that you are secured in your job.

“Once that list is compiled we will send a document to the ministries for consideration.”

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb