B.N.T.U. upset about potential transfer of 70 teachers

Earlier in the newscast, we reported on protests in Belize City and San Pedro and it appears that there’s trouble brewing in the south for another union, the B.N.T.U. Teachers in the Stann Creek District are up in arms regarding a large number of potential transfers by the district’s Catholic Management. Late last week, the Belize National Teachers’ Union (B.N.T.U.) found out that Father Dominic McDonagh, the Catholic Local District Manager, had prepared letters to officially inform at least seventy educators—including teachers and principals—that they would be reassigned and in some cases… even demoted. The sheer quantity set off alarm bells for the union given the percentage when calculated of the approximate two hundred and thirty Catholic teachers in the district. Upon further investigation, B.N.TU. also realized that proper transfer procedures were not followed. News Five spoke to B.N.T.U. President Jaime Panti and Executive Secretary George Fraser to get the details of the situation.

George Frazer, Exec. Secretary, Belize Natl Teachers’ Union
“The concerns are one; that he has not seen it fit to consult, which is the proper thing. Two; he is transferring a large amount of teachers from certain schools, for example Holy Ghost and he’s transferring many principals too and demoting them; putting them down as regular teachers. In meetings with the ministry and managers and others, it has been made clear if you transfer somebody in the public service, you don’t demote as such or they should not lose in salary. But the main concern is that he has not consulted, they are human beings, they have families. Sometimes they have young children and others in school and it will affect them.”

Jaime Panti, President, Belize Natl Teachers’ Union
“We know that transfers happen every year, we are aware of that. As a union, we are very conversant with the rules, but it does not happen at a bigger scale. It is very minimal and it should benefit not only the teacher, but it also should benefit the institution. The first procedure is to—the teachers need to be notified on time; one month the rule stipulates. It also stipulates that in many instances, you see if the local manager is implementing a plan, then you need to ensure that everybody is onboard. But if there is resistance then your plan is not going to work. Principals need to be duly informed and if the need is for them to be transferred—I know the job is transferable—but seventy teachers, you begin to wonder why are they transferring all these teachers, are all these teachers doing bad? Where are the schools, where is the plan? Have the teachers been presented with a plan? Have the principals been involved with the plan? So that’s the procedure. When we checked with the General Manager, he was not aware. I informed the Ministry of education. I put them on the alert that this is what’s the situation in Stann Creek so we need to check. They promised me that they are going to check it.”