Education Minister Maintains Ministry Will Support School Managers to Keep Schools Open

Patrick Faber

It’s day-two and the B.N.T.U. has already announced that it will continue on to a third consecutive day of industrial action to be followed by a national demonstration. But even before today’s cabinet meeting where the government is calling for the B.N.T.U. to return to the negotiating table, News Five asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Patrick Faber about measures the government is contemplating to move forward.

Patrick Faber, Minister of Education

“We have said already what our proposal is, and please understand, I heard Mister Palacio misquoting me yesterday to say that the minister is saying that it is his ministry that is responsible to put contingency plans in the schools. I have never said that. In fact, I have gone on the record to say that it is the duty under the law; it is the obligation under the law, of managing authorities to put in place plans to keep schools open. What I said is the ministry’s role is to support the managing authorities to make them know that the government is here to support. And that is why we signed the statutory instrument that would allow in the event of extended industrial action. And I want to say to people that one day or even this second day is not what we consider—and that’s not just now, it is what I said from last week—once we get to the point of extended strike action that is when all will understand that the managing authorities, supported by the ministry, will then move to make sure that there are measures to keep schools open.”