B.N.T.U. supports Teachers Services Commission
The Ministry of Education continues its countrywide consultations about the proposed Teaching Services Commission. The Church remains conflicted on a unified standpoint. The Council of Churches issued a statement in support of the commission. Then, the Bishop’s Commission on Education for the Roman Catholic Church made it clear it didn’t support those amendments to the education act. The teacher’s union has been somewhat under the radar about the issue. But today a release sent from Belize National Teacher’s Union headquarters clarified for once and all, that it while the supports the implementation of the Teacher’s Service Commission, there must be some key changes to the current structure of the proposed commission. B.N.T.U. president Jaime Panti explains.
Jaime Panti, National President, B.N.T.U.
“We need to improve our weaknesses so we can have better results in this country.”
Jose Sanchez
“So you support it?”
Jaime Panti
“We support it in principle until we see the amendments. Because we are proposing some amendments, we are just waiting for the committee to reconvene. And then we are going to present our recommendations to that committee.”
Jose Sanchez
“So what are the recommendations that you want to see implemented?”
Jaime Panti
“First of all we have an issue with the appointment of the chair. We don’t have a problem if the ministry appoints a representative, because by right they should. Since remember they pay teachers. So they should have a representative. We don’t have a problem with that. But I don’t think necessarily that they should have the chair. I think that if the commission; itself can elect a chair from within that would spell very well for us. And I think that would bring a great ease for many people who believe the teaching services commission might have influence, political influence. So that would ease many people who are very skeptical about it. The second issue that we have is in relation to that same composition because it is made up of 13 persons. And I think that we need to sit down and review so that we can ensure that all stakeholders are represented, as much as possible. But of course, we don’t want to make it too exorbitant because then it will not serve its function.”
Jose Sanchez
“What if the ministry or the minister says “I’m sorry but I can’t go along with your proposals”, will you still support this implementation?”
Jaime Panti
“From what we’ve gathered with the ministry they are willing to sit with us and look at it, review it. I am just waiting for the committee to reconvene and see where we are. But we are very strong in our recommendations. At the very end we want the effectiveness of the commission. We don’t want just a group of people to be there, for it to be a rubber stamp and it will not have any teeth. We want it to be credible and we want it to get the job done.”
Panti says that the union does not believe that the Teaching Services Commission is a threat to the Church’s authority.
