Teachers in the north stayed at home today; Faber says it was unwarranted

Patrick Faber

While the hiccup caused a delay in payment, there were teachers from several districts, including Orange Walk, who stayed away from their classrooms today.  Their abstention, says Faber, was unwarranted.

Reporter

“Did this particular problem affect pensioners as well, past teachers?”

Patrick Faber

“You know, I am not certain. I think that once you are on the payroll from the management I believe it did. I am not a hundred percent certain on that though?”

Reporter

“Now in other areas across the country, some teachers did not show up for work today. Can you share some comment on that?”

Patrick Faber

“Well it is disappointing to me and I say that because from Friday once the senior management of the ministry became aware of the problem, we tried our best to notify all those concerned including the Belize National Teachers’ Union officials that this problem is there and that we are working hard to correct it. In fact, we are told that people in our ministry and treasury worked the entire weekend to correct the payroll issues so that the payments could go through and from that release on Friday, we had indicated to people that we would aim for Tuesday and that in fact the time off would be given. So for teachers to say this morning well then I am not going to go to work is really just in my opinion and of course it would be controversial, but teachers knew that it would not be ready today and so not going to school certainly did not solve the problem. And in fact, to me, short-changed the children a great deal.”

A meeting has been scheduled to involve the ministry, the Treasury Department, as well as all primary school managements to address the issue going forward.