BNTU Says Teachers Are Being Disenfranchised by MoE

The Belize National Teachers Union issued a strong release today saying it is disgusted at the way the Ministry of Education shared a “finalized” listing of re-categorised schools to managements, principals and teachers.  The B.N.T.U. says that over the summer its President Elena Smith was a part of a sub-committee that reviewed and revised the listing of the schools which fall under categories for hardship and rural allowances and time off to collect salary. According to the Union, they had expressed concerns about changes made to the draft list and were of the view that the exercise was incomplete. But the ministry went ahead and issued a finalized list and all attempts to get an official copy have been futile. The release states, “Changes made to that list will see many of our teachers disenfranchises and inconvenienced at a time when they most need the assistance of the MoE.”  The Union made it clear that it does not endorse the so called finalized list of hardship and rural allowance categories and encouraged teachers to continue to take the day off to collect their salaries until the MoE respects the input of the Union.