B.N.T.U. Says M.O.E. is Silent on School Managements’ Neglect

Earlier this week, the B.N.T.U. president called out the Ministry of Education for supporting the school management’s decision to dock salaries. Smith says that the ministry quoted from the rule book about why the different managements are justified in taking the decision. But she pulled one back on M.O.E., noting that several of the managements are not living up to the rule-book and that the ministry has never called them out. Smith shared some of the issues that teachers are facing across the country and where managements are faltering, according to the education rules.

Elena Smith

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

“If we are to look at the same education rules they speak of, this tells you about the role of managing authority and I really want to address that because that will address their press release. Rule 32 -2 (a) it speaks about managing authority shall – it says shall, not may – in keeping with the development and implementation of relevant polices under sub-rule 1, ensure that for every school or institution under its management that – a) “proper physical conditions exist for the conduct of schooling throughout the regular maintenance of buildings and upkeep of the grounds of the school or institution.” We have our teachers who currently are in classrooms that are infested by rat bats and everyday they go to school they have to be sweeping out rat bat feces and that is unhealthy for the teachers and students. Have you ever heard the Ministry ever put out a release to say we support these teachers complaining about these unhealthy situations? We have never heard of that. They speak about the children and how we care about the children but these children are being affected by these unhealthy conditions. [Section] b) speaks to maintenance of furniture, equipment and materials that are sufficient for students who are enrolled. How many times have you heard of teachers who complained that they don’t have enough chairs and tables for the students and enough materials for the classroom? You have never heard a word from the Ministry addressing this matter publicly and holding these managements accountable. [Section] c) says the provision of conditions conducive to the health and safety of students and teachers – which I spoke of. And the provision of the necessary support for a quality learning environment for all children is maintained. You have heard us say to our teachers that it is not their responsibility to provide materials for the classroom; yet they do so every year, every month. Where has this Ministry been to say to managements, listen, the rules are clear and we need to abide by them.  We have never heard them.”