By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamas Union of Teachers is planning to “go up another level” in their protest against the government early next week, BUT President Belinda Wilson said yesterday.
Speaking with The Tribune Ms Wilson said despite promises made by Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald to pay teachers money owed to them before the end of the year, the union will continue their industrial action until all their needs are met.
Her comments came after Mr Fitzgerald said the government will pay the teachers the $3.5 million owed to them in increments with the first instalment before year’s end.
However, Ms Wilson said the union has been promised on numerous occasions, by both governments, and still have not been paid.
“We are still on work to rule, that has not changed,” she said. “The Minister and subsequent ministers to him have said over and over they will pay us, but that hasn’t happened. So I will not believe it until we see the money on our bank accounts. So we will continue to agitate and we will take it to another level next week, you wait and see.”
On Wednesday, Mr Fitzgerald warned teachers who refused to participate in after school activities that their pay will be cut and they will be “replaced”.
Mr Fitzgerald’s comments came after Bahamas Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson issued a cease order for teachers and coaches who normally participate in after school activities as the union began a nation-wide work to rule. Ms Wilson said Mr Fitzgerald’s comments show how “ignorant” he is when it comes to his ministry.
“The teachers who are sitting out are standing up for the principle and it has nothing to do with money. He is very ignorant. The teachers and coaches cannot easily be replaced. They have been training these kids for years preparing their teams for a game or tournament, it is difficult to get someone else to come in and coach that team,” she said.
“I am disappointed in his comments. He must think we are shallow, our thoughts are not only finance. But he will see how serious we are, work to rule continues, sports has been suspended and we will heighten our efforts next week.”
Comments
xxx 10 years, 5 months ago
1/2 getting leaving school certificate ....... Dat good enough for Voting ,and Bed Making EH? Dat Some Good work she doing ..... STRIKE GAL STRIKE .....LOL
1voice 10 years, 5 months ago
Make the teachers responsible for the level of education in their classrooms. You cannot tell me that a teachers, who has these kids with them for years, cannot tell that they cannot read or comprehend. Make them responsible. Apparently, the way to do it is financially, because that is all they are looking for these days. I remember when teachers were TEACHERS, and not money grubbing blood suckers!
kvstubbs 10 years, 5 months ago
If the teachers have worked then pay them what is due to them. The issue is the Government took so long to pay and now with the economy slow there is no money. The funds owed should have been in the budget.
In the 1980s when all the P.E. Teachers stop coaching the schoool teams because they wanted to get pay for the after school sports activities. This was detrimental to the Bahamas. This was the time when all the gangs started and/or number of members grew. Only the children was hurt and suffered, not the government nor the P.E. Teachers. The only sport program that continued was the Chess Tournaments between schools - Thank you Mr. Warren Seymour (Math Teacher).
The private schools started their own sports association as a result of the P.E. Teachers in the government schools system stopping the sports programs in the 1980s.
In 2013 - All sporting activities and after school classes stop - Here we go again. I will reiterate 'ONLY THE CHILDREN WILL SUFFER'
The Leaders involve would tell us, they care about the development of the youth but their actions do not.
Bahamians, Parents we have the power, lets work together to ensure the government and the union make the right decisions concerning the growth of our children.
shortpants 10 years, 5 months ago
I remember when teachers were TEACHERS, and not money grubbing blood suckers! That's what most of them are .Waiting for a check so they can pay for there children private teaching.They talk down to your children,about how dumb they are and judge them with their children whom are in private schools .We have the most lousy teachers than ever before, most teachers took pride in there teaching ability .I just came from my child school and as I stood on the side line you can hear how horrible most of these teachers are .Because a child believes in god his teacher had a problem she told him to get out of her class and go let god teach him WOW what and idiot she is. There was and incident over at the mall which she was not involved in but was heading home my child was sent home today because she refuse to go to the police station over at that mall on Friday because the vice principle told her to do so and she ask him why because she was not involve in anything ,she just wanted to go home .He told me she was rude for not listening to him .So today as she came through the gate he took off her perfect badge and told her to go home .I always say respect is earned.Most off these teachers are turning our children into monsters the way they speak and treat them when they are in there care.They bring there problems to school ,Some children than have problems at home and than to come to school where these lousy teachers talk down to them.Our school system needs to get rid of most of those expat workers they are the worst they tell there students we only here to collect a check and sure as HELL that's all it is about ....
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