Glenys Hanna-Martin
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS
Tribune Staff Reporter
lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
EDUCATION Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin said officials had been informed about a “very small” number of Cuban teachers whose command of the English Language had been a barrier between them and students.
She said this is not unusual in the first few weeks of school.
Her comments came after Bahamas Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson claimed that some teachers could not speak English. Some teachers who spoke to The Tribune on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to reporters confirmed this.
During a press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday, Mrs Hanna Martin expressed confidence that there will not be “continuing barriers”, adding that if the barriers persist, the ministry would fix the problem.
“We have been advised in a very small number of cases in certain schools and that those issues are not unusual in the first few weeks of school, which I’ve said before,” she said.
“We have been advised over the 20 years that initially, it acquired some acclimation between the teacher understanding the Bahamian child and the Bahamian child understanding fully the Cuban teacher in a minority of cases.
“Overwhelmingly, there are no issues, but where there are issues, we will seek to intervene and to ensure that there is a smooth rollout. And if there are issues that are unresolvable, we will step in, but I have been advised that this is not unusual in some instances, that there is a sort of orientation between the new teacher and the student population.”
In defending the Cuban teachers, Ms Hanna-Martin cited a long-standing memorandum of understanding The Bahamas has with the Cuban government, which helps this country meet its teacher deficits.
“The Cuban teachers, from what I have been advised, have provided an invaluable input to education,” she said. “And in fact, this year, they have allowed us to extend access to special education for children who have been falling between the cracks.”
“And we are now being able to put them in islands that, you know, that were never here for service with special education teachers. The other area that they’ve brought to the table is technical and vocational.”
Comments
ohdrap4 7 months, 1 week ago
all they have to do at orientation is tell the teachers to speak slowly and clearly.
also them to be humble and tell students to correct them if they misprounuce a word, their names or ask them to repeat if they cannot understand a sentence.
DiverBelow 7 months, 1 week ago
Which English are we referring to? Queen's (King's now), American English, American Street Slang, Bahamian, Bahamian Street Slang, Haitian Creole-English? There are a number of English variations, ...as one experiences in Dade County. With time, we all understand eventually.
rosiepi 7 months, 1 week ago
“This is not unusual during the first weeks of school”??? Since when? And how does the Minister intend to perform this miraculous transformation, ie. teaching a 2nd language in 3 weeks?
One is stunned by the sheer preposterousness of her problem solving skills; farm these illiterates out to those Family Islands who’ve never had Special Ed instructors. They should just count themselves lucky to be so privileged, and be as silent as these teachers who cannot communicate with their developmentally challenged charges.
ohdrap4 7 months, 1 week ago
The BUT is biased tho. They say nothing about the Indian and African who cannot be understood either.
TalRussell 7 months, 1 week ago
Why are Cubans being targeted - That is other than if hired as English teacher educators. --- Yes?
temptedbythefruitofanother 7 months, 1 week ago
ahm gwine be say neveah do de teach done reach when dey haint gwine teach de language of de streetz so good enuf fo de studen to get dey completion serts.. whats da big ass deal?
temptedbythefruitofanother 7 months, 1 week ago
Now who can argue with that?
temptedbythefruitofanother 7 months, 1 week ago
gotta love the gov hiring Cuban nationals because the lack of internet on Cuba means the prospective teachers cannot adequately research what a horrific hellhole "teaching in the Bahamas" is compared to their first world counterparts that wouldn't touch the "Bahamas educational system* with a ten foot pole. Good strategy, lol
temptedbythefruitofanother 7 months, 1 week ago
whats it take beyond an irregular heartbeat to get a "completion certificate" anyway?
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