B.N.T.U. advises members to read amended Education Act

While the US Capital Energy issue continues to fester, another controversy is blazing on the education front. The Belize National Teachers’ Union (B.N.T.U.) issued an advisory to its membership and all persons employed in the field of Education, stating that Statutory Instrument (S.I.) number eighty-seven, education amendment rules, of 2012 has been signed into law by Minister of Education, Patrick Faber. The S.I. was gazette on October sixth, but the B.N.T.U. says it is dissatisfied with the way it was passed. According to its release, the Ministry of Education initially held consultations with stakeholders through a Working Group over eighteen months ago, but it did not follow through on its commitment to allow a final review of the document. The B.N.T.U. says it will conduct seminars countrywide with School Representatives and Branch Officers in November to review the new Education Amendment Rules. Following those seminars, their concerns will be made known to the Ministry of Education. In the meantime, the union is advising stakeholders to obtain a copy of the amended rules and become familiar with its contents since it is expected to have serious implications for the terms and conditions of staff employment.