B.N.T.U. calls out the government on 3 contentious issues

Jaime Panti

There was tough talk coming from the Belize National Teacher’s Union today. The perennial issue is the amendment to the Education Act that was first read in the House of Representatives in December of last year and will come up for a second reading when the House convenes next week.  Even before the Education and Training Bill went to the House, the amendment for the establishment of a Teaching Services Commission sparked fiery debate in the nationwide consultations because the authority to hire and fire teachers rested with the Minister of Education. The B.N.T.U. initially opposed some of the amendments and then recanted. But still there was dissention in the ranks coming from the membership in the north. But that is all behind and today the B.N.T.U. announced that there is consensus to support the appointment of the Commission – but that is with a proviso. At a press conference held at the Belize Institute of Management, made counter proposals. National President, Jaime Panti outlined changes they want to incorporate in the bill.

Jaime Panti, Nat’l President, B.N.T.U.

“We are ten branches and there will be times that we may not agree to every issue, but we always follow the democratic process that the majority rules. That is important, but the overall principle of the teaching service commission as a regulatory body is important for the teaching profession if we are to elevate the level of the teaching profession. We supported that in principle, we are expecting that the amendments that we are making which are feasible that government, they are nothing out of the ordinary, that government will adapt as to what we are proposing to amend the teaching services commission. We have four proposed amendments and we are hoping that they will consider those. One speaks to the issue of the chair. Remember that the chair will be selected and appointed by the Prime Minister. We can concede to that provided that there is a criteria that is followed because we want somebody who knows the education system. Two; that the stakeholders also have the opportunity to nominate candidates for consideration as the chair. The second aspect of it has to do with the issue of corporal punishment of which we are requesting if not demanding that the rule stay as is presently in Education Rules; that corporal punishment should be the last resort and administered by the Principal. You cannot remove something if you do not have anything in place.  It’s just a reestablishment of a school inspectorate. That is going to assist us so that the level and the standard of education in this country is uplifted and there is a set standard across the country. And task the principals and management to do what is required of them.”

“The amalgamation policy for rural schools is another issue and B.N.T.U. supports the concept because B.N.T.U. has been supporting the amalgamation of schools. Politicians have been having a football game for years gone by that they just recommend the parents come to them and they want to open schools anywhere in this country. That is why we find ourselves in this situation that we are just stretching the little resources that we have amongst many schools in this country. So the amalgamation policy, which we fully endorse as a union, is aimed at one: maximizing of our resources.”

There was also a hue and cry against political appointments.  According to Panti, there is an urgent need for training of teachers and managers.  The union believes that the hiring of politically connected persons has led to mismanagement in the schools and a deterioration of the education system.

Jaime Panti, Nat’l President, BNTU

“Many of our grant aid schools in particular and probably even government schools, you notice that when there is an election they just bring—and this brings me to another issue which is the meritocracy system. There must be that in place. If a person is to be promoted from one position to the other, that person must earn it not only on qualification but also on the experience that it has. We cannot allow politicians just to bring in their people and their cronies and this is why our system is failing. And that issue of management is important because many of our local managers and general managers are not conversant with our education system and this is where we fall into problems because we are not speaking the same and we are not following the same regulations. Everybody is doing their own thing. Even at the ministry level, there are many managers that do not understand their role. Therefore, they also just as we are requiring teachers to have a license, just as how we are requiring everybody to be trained, general managers and local managers should not be the exception. They should also be at the forefront.”

Another concern raised by the BNTU was the issue of a collective bargaining agreement with G.O.B. Since 2008, the teachers have not been paid their increments. In mid 2009, the union made another proposal to government, and according to the B.N.T.U., this is collecting dust in Belmopan and has not been acknowledged by government. B.N.T.U. says it wants a response by next week; if not the teachers are simply going to take matters into their own hands.

Jaime Panti

“I am calling on the government of Belize to address the issue of our collective bargaining agreement. Since 2008, they have been dragging their feet and they have been staggering the process. I am demanding, on behalf of our members and B.N.T.U., that government gives us in the next week to come an answer if not we are going to take drastic measures. Our collective bargaining agreement was submitted in 2008; they were not satisfied accordingly because of the costing. We sat down and resubmitted it in August of 2009. Up to this stage we have not received any answer. That contravenes our agreement as established in the tripartite agreement. That’s disrespectful to us; we do not take it likely. We have been very patient so I am demanding on behalf of our members for government of Belize to please address our collective agreement in the next week if not drastic actions will be taken.”