Ministry of Education Says: No Services, No Salary!

Carol Babb

Late Tuesday evening, a memo from the Ministry of Education, titled “Withholding of Contributions towards Salaries for Teachers on Strike,” was released.  According to the document, signed by Chief Education Officer Doctor Carol Babb, G.O.B. has decided to withhold salaries for teachers who went on strike from all government and grant-aided schools. The instructions issued to school managements came within hours after the B.N.T.U. had called off an eleven-day strike. According to C.E.O. David Leacock and Doctor Babb, the government reserves its right not to pay teachers since services were not rendered.

Dr. Carol Babb, Chief Education Officer

“The government is basing this decision on the fact that we give salaries based on services rendered. The teachers were warned that if they choose to strike, there will be consequences. And we are withholding salaries because services were not delivered by those teachers who chose to strike.”

Reporter

“Now explain to us for those who do not know, the teachers who this affects.”

Dr. Carol Babb

“It’s not all teachers, but if you look at rule 102, it states that during a strike, it is the responsibility of the managing authorities to keep a record of teachers who are participating in the strike. So only those teachers who participated in the strike will be affected. At the primary level, government pays one hundred percent for all primary school principals and teachers for government and grant aided primary schools. At the primary level excluding private schools, government pays a hundred percent of salaries. At the secondary schools, it is different with the finance reform and the C.E.O. can tell you more about that. But at the primary level, government pays a hundred percent.”

David Leacock

David Leacock, C.E.O., Ministry of Education

“I think that was established in the ruling in 2005 where this issue arose before. I’m not sure if unwarranted was the word. People have a right to strike if that is what they feel…”

Reporter

“So perhaps unreasonable?”

David Leacock

“…Maybe, because there were ongoing negotiations. But at this point, it is neither here nor there; it’s happened. And so this is where we are at.”