The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE shortage of curriculum officers on Grand Bahama is among several pressing issues in the public education system that must be addressed by the Ministry of Education, said newly elected area vice president of the Bahamas Educators Managerial Union (BEMU) Frazette Gibson.

Mrs Gibson, who was elected April 12 in Grand Bahama, said there are presently only two curriculum officers, however one is due to retire at the end of the year.

“We need a curriculum officer for each discipline, but there are only officers for English Language, and Family and Consumer Science,” she said.

“We are concerned about the inadequate number of curriculum officers on the island who are very vital to the fabric of education as they provide support, guidance, monitoring, inspection, evaluating and reporting on the process of teaching and learning in the schools.”

Mrs Gibson stressed that the matter must be addressed as officers provide much needed support for immediate supervisors at the schools.

The union executive also noted that salary reassessment is another significant concern for education managers.

Mrs Gibson believes that education managers are not being paid according to industry standards.

“Education managers should receive salaries which speak to what they do in their various capacity, and so we seek to ensure that we have salary reassessment that is in alignment with current industry practices,” she said.

The BEMU also wants post confirmations conducted in a timely manner.

She indicated that the union will partner with the employer to ensure that managers are confirmed on a timely basis.

“You cannot have an individual in a post for three and five years without them being confirmed and hence their salaries are not changing. So it is high time that the Ministry of Education and the (Department of) Public Service work in unison to facilitate confirmations quickly.

Mrs Gibson also noted that training and development is important. She said lack of training presents challenges when individuals appointed to posts do not receive proper training for the positions they occupy.

As the new area vice president, Mrs Gibson promised to look at holding quality meetings so that members on the island are updated about what is going on and so they can provide input on what is being done on their behalf.

Mrs Gibson, a veteran educator, was able to beat out three opponents, including incumbent Tammi Ellis-Elliot, Keith Barr, and Kendris Heild, during BEMU elections held last week.