B.N.T.U. President Questioning Legality of Reopening Schools

Elena Smith

President Elena Smith is also questioning the legality of the reopening of schools. Smith contends that the recently enacted statutory instrument does not specifically address to the reopening of schools.

Senator Elena Smith, National President, B.N.T.U

“There is the concern that our teachers and students returning to school on Monday would be contravening the S.I. because nowhere has it been mentioned that schools are allowed to open. We heard about all the business places and government offices going back to normal but nowhere even yesterday when the AG did his Ask the Experts session there was no  mention that schools are on the lit of places allowed to open. So are we going back to school illegally and that question has not been answered as yet because if that is in place and there is no mention of schools then it means that we are acting against those rules, against the S.I. So how do we assure our teachers, parents, our students that it is legal for them to return to school? I want to make it very clear that at no point have you heard me say that our teachers are not willing.”
Hipolito Novelo

“…or ready or prepared.”

Senator Elena Smith

“Being prepared is a different matter from being wiling.”

Hipolito Novelo

“So are the teachers prepared to go back to school?”

Senator Elena Smith

“In terms of being prepared to go back to school on Monday it also means that these teachers, we know that they are not on vacation. So we understand that but knowing that we are in a place where schools have not been declared open as yet it puts them in a position where they are not comfortable with such a decision knowing that there is an S.I. that does not includes schools in it as being able to open at this point in time.”