BAHAMAS Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson.
By LEANDRA ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE BAHAMAS Union of Teachers said it is concerned that a number of Cuban teachers recently hired by the government cannot speak English and called on the Ministry of Education to investigate the issue.
BUT president Belinda Wilson told The Tribune yesterday that teachers in Abaco, Grand Bahama and New Providence have been complaining about language barriers.
“Within the last few days,” she said, “I would’ve received concerns from several schools where some of the new Cuban teachers that have just arrived within the last few weeks, there seems to be a language barrier and some of them are having difficulty speaking the English language.”
“Some of the students have raised the issue and teachers have raised the issue.”
When contacted by The Tribune yesterday, acting education director Dominique McCartney-Russell said she was not aware of the claims, but promised to look into it.
She confirmed that 46 Cuban teachers were placed in schools throughout the country to address staff shortages.
“We would’ve interviewed them. We had a team in Cuba and they would’ve interviewed all of the teachers,” she said when asked about the vetting process. “From our recruitment exercise, we identify the best and the brightest teachers and we have offered them a position so they are serving in our schools for the needs that we have.”
Meanwhile, Mrs Wilson said while the new hires are desperately needed, the union would not sit idly if the situation is not addressed.
“If the children are unable to understand what they’re saying, or they’re unable to understand what the children and teachers are saying, then its counter-productive so, as I said earlier, we are grateful for our colleagues from Cuba, but once a complaint comes to the union or a concern, we must follow up,” she added.
Comments
FreeportFreddy 7 months, 3 weeks ago
Half the Bahamian teachers can't speak english either - don't ax me why.
ohdrap4 7 months, 3 weeks ago
THE BAHAMAS Union of Teachers said it is concerned that a number of Cuban teachers recently hired by the government cannot speak English
Neither can Belinda speak English. Listening to her on the radio I noted all her sentences must contain "would have"
Porcupine 7 months, 3 weeks ago
So, why doesn't the Ministry of Education, in one of the richest of Caribbean countries, pay teachers enough to incentivize Bahamian students to become teachers? What if we paid teachers as much as we pay our useless MPs? You think we'd have to bring in teachers from elsewhere? With all this talk of fixing education, The Bahamas is way too jokey. Problem is, if we educated our people properly, how would the D average politicians get away with the shit they currently get away with? They wouldn't. So, don't expect education to get any better.
Porcupine 7 months, 3 weeks ago
Truth about education. Is he wrong?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNXHS...">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNXHS...
birdiestrachan 7 months, 3 weeks ago
From what is presented to the public Mrs Wilson and some of the teachers want to strike, not concerned about education , that is the way it seems the Cubans may have a passion for teaching and that will go far beyond the language barrier
DWW 7 months, 3 weeks ago
i'm at a loss for words over the sheer audacity of the statement. This is not helping the problem is it making it worse. Perhaps, just maybe, it might be a better approach for the BUT (of the joke) to spend time helping the new recruits get settled and get better with their English skills rather than running to the public like a poor baby who lost its sucker. If you aren't helping you are hurting the problem plain and simple.
TalRussell 7 months, 3 weeks ago
Comrades, 'forego, cause not sufficient words over the sheer audacity;To be goin' deep n speakin' bout', --- BUT President,"Sister" Belindas, says tis and dat..--- When it's this 'language ting' of ours, tis the one topic.in which, all popoulaces', should be speakin' 'more and often bout as the only ting' is left to steal from the local Popoulaces' --- As well as, every teacher, must be prepared to taught it to all students, and in all the colony's classrooms.--- 'To the hell with those who presented themselves under a mask of deceit with messaging,' --- 'Thou locals shalt not lie, nor steal. Nor should you be Greedy''.--- Then, they said to us, --- 'Must "close our eyes and pray.' --- And after we reopened our eyes, only to learn that we had forfeited our jobs. --- And, then they came for we beaches. sea fronts, private islands. --- Then they came for our plots of lands. --- And, when we reopened our eyes, --- We'd been left with nothing but our 'Bible.and Bahamalander language.' ---- Now, they;re coming' for our, --- 'Spoken language'..--- Soon we goin' be left with only our ---- Bible and we's ways of spellin' and writin'. --- Before they'd had landed,, ---- 'Lookin' like, we no longer possess the very instruments of which once defined us as a Popoulaces;' ... Yes? Virus-free.www.avg.com
TalRussell 7 months, 3 weeks ago
Comrades, 'forego, cause not sufficient words over the sheer audacity; If to be goin' deep n speakin' bout', --- BUT President,"Sister" Belindas, says tis and dat..--- When it's this 'language ting' of ours, tis the one topic.in which, --- All popoulaces', should be engaged to be speakin' 'more and often bout as the only ting' is left to steal from the local Popoulaces' --- As well as, every teacher, must be prepared to taught it to all students, and in all the colony's classrooms.--- 'To the hell with those who presented themselves under a mask of deceit with messaging,' --- 'Thou locals shalt not lie, nor steal. Nor should you be Greedy''.--- Then, they said to us, --- 'Must "close our eyes and pray.' --- And after we reopened our eyes, only to learn that we had forfeited our jobs. --- And, then they came for we beaches. sea fronts, private islands. --- Then they came for our plots of lands. --- And, when we reopened our eyes, --- We'd been left with nothing but our 'Bible.and Bahamalander language.' ---- Now, they;re coming' for our, --- 'Spoken language'..--- Soon we goin' be left with only our ---- Bible and we's ways of spellin' and writin'. ---- 'Lookin' like, we no longer possess the very instruments of which once defined us as a Popoulaces;' ... Yes?
pablojay 7 months, 3 weeks ago
Speaking about English, i am requesting assistance in this matter: Miss Wilson said," We would have interviewed them......" In my high school class we would use 'would have' when we intended to do something,but something prevented us from doing it but nowadays would have is being used for something that was done.
zemilou 7 months, 3 weeks ago
If the Ministry of Education (and civil service, generally?) didn't force teachers (and civil servants?) to retire at age 65, and if they and politicians were genuinely concerned about the welfare of their teachers -- ergo their students and schools -- there might be fewer challenges with staffing schools.
Perhaps a more flexible retirement policy is in order. Many 65-year-old are healthier and more energetic than much younger people. Further, despite retirement opportunities, some enjoy teaching and are extremely effective and wise teachers -- again, when compared to many of their younger counterparts who view it simply as a job. Provide opportunities for part-time teaching, say 1/2 as opposed to full-time load.
Be innovative. It's been 50 years since we were officially a colony.
Not that challenges wouldn't remain, but they might be less severe.
moncurcool 7 months, 3 weeks ago
What is so sad is that we have Prime Ministers and Cabinet Ministers way beyond 65 and they are not forced into mandatory retirement with thier unqualified selves.
Yet, we have qualified teachers we force to retire at 65.
Something is wrong with this country and that picture.
Porcupine 7 months, 3 weeks ago
I like the term "unqualified selves".
ohdrap4 7 months, 3 weeks ago
They actually allow teachers to retire at 70. However, the system is such that the promotions go to the incompetent and the decision to allow a teacher to remain depends on "your relationship with your (incompetent) principal. So, generally the incompetent temain.
you do not have to look that far, the mode of being chosen "teacher of the year" depends on you satisfying a clique of church ladies and buying them many lunches. Not one expatriate has ever been made teacher of the years.
People leave the profession way before 65.
TalRussell 7 months, 3 weeks ago
@Comrade Ohd, care express opinon as to, where exactly, the best whereabouts, one is to go to seek out, what an 'expatriate' --- Does look like in the colony, --- Yes?
ohdrap4 7 months, 3 weeks ago
Don't start Tal. They come in all colors.
trueBahamian 7 months, 3 weeks ago
Is this actually true or is Belinda being Belinda again? First of all, if they could not speak English well.how did they get past an interview? Seems a bit odd.
Let me see, we have a low national average. What is it now, D-, E+, G#? It's a failure for years. Now we have a teaching shortage. Ok! We have to go outside the country to fill that shortage. Wow! So, thanks Belinda for pointing out a complaint you got but how about coming up with a solution. Can you be a problem solver and not a problem?
Porcupine 7 months, 3 weeks ago
We complicate matters because we are not focused. Begin paying teachers a living wage and treat them decently. Only then will we have qualified Bahamians wanting to teach. As it is, it is simply a race to the bottom.
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