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Back-to-school VAT holiday arrives too late to help

BAHAMAS Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson said the government’s Back-to-School VAT holiday arrives too late in the year to have maximum benefit.

Union queries school repairs with opening weeks away

BAHAMAS Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson wants a report from the Ministry of Works concerning a roof collapse on a building at RM Bailey Senior High School.

BUT will pursue industrial action if teachers not paid monies owed

BAHAMAS Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson threatened to lead her union to industrial action if teachers do not receive their responsibility allowance by next month.

Trans-activist backs BUT president’s comment

A TRANSGENDER activist is defending Bahamas Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson for saying schools should educate students about transgenderism.

BUT president says Abaco school ‘needs special attention’

BAHAMAS Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson said a “band-aid” approach will not settle the “myriad” of problems at Patrick J Bethel High School, saying the union is very concerned about the ongoing school violence.

‘More must be done’ to stop school violence

“MORE must be done” to deal with violence in schools, said Bahamas Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson yesterday, following a stabbing at an Abaco high school this week.

Teaching union chief concerned at school violence

BAHAMAS Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson said there is an ongoing concern about school violence.

Teacher seeks counselling while parent is expected to be charged

THE parent involved in the recent incident at Central Eleuthera High School where a teacher was allegedly almost attacked has been arrested and will “hopefully” be charged, said Belinda Wilson, president of the Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) yesterday.

Teachers anger after ‘near-attack’ by parent

TEACHERS at Central Eleuthera High School stood in solidarity with one of their colleagues who was allegedly almost “attacked” by a parent, according to Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) president Belinda Wilson.

‘Hundreds’ of teachers still owed back pay, says union

HUNDREDS of teachers are still owed back pay, according to Bahamas Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson.

Thelma Gibson workers ‘have had enough’

TENSION between teachers at Thelma Gibson Primary School and the school’s principal continued yesterday, with a number of workers allegedly calling in sick or refusing to show up to work.

BUT president: Ensure there are sufficient teachers in Family Islands

BELINDA Wilson, who was recently re-elected president of the Bahamas Union of Teachers, called on the Ministry of Education to ensure there are sufficient teachers in Family Islands, particularly in Abaco.

Belinda Wilson re-elected BUT president in unofficial results

BELINDA Wilson has unofficially been re-elected president of the Bahamas Union of Teachers.

Teachers ‘still wait on letters and Family Island payments’

BAHAMAS Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson expressed concern that many new teachers are still awaiting letters of confirmation and geographical posting allowances.

Union claims teachers reassigned in breach of industrial agreement

BAHAMAS Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson claimed a handful of teachers at public schools were reassigned in breach of the union’s industrial agreement.

Teachers union reviewing govt proposal

PRESIDENT of the Bahamas Union of Teachers Belinda Wilson said the union is actively reviewing the government’s proposal.

BELINDA DRAWS A LINE IN THE SAND: Union leader sets date for teachers to launch action

BELINDA Wilson has told teachers to get ready to take industrial action on August 22, insisting the government has had ample time to bring closure to matters of concern for educators.

TEACHERS’ TURN FOR ULTIMATUM: Govt given just days to break deadlock in long-running dispute

BAHAMAS Union of Teachers has delivered a seven-day ultimatum for the government to sign off on a full industrial agreement that will benefit the more than 3,000 members of the union.

Teachers respond to govt

BAHAMAS Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson says a response has been sent to the government on its counter proposal regarding a salary increase for educators.

Union says system has failed schools

BAHAMAS Union of Teachers has said that the Ministry of Education must admit that its Learning Management System has failed teachers and students, as it called for an operable virtual platform to be implemented.

TEACHERS REJECT SALARY PROPOSALS: But union will hold off on industrial action for one week

BAHAMAS Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson says the union will hold off on industrial action for one week, after revealing that members have twice rejected counter proposals from government as it relates to salaries for members.

TEACHERS’ FEARS ON COVID TRACING: Union concern over ability to properly monitor school cases

THE Bahamas Union of Teachers is concerned about the capacity of the Ministry of Health and Wellness to facilitate proper contract tracing in the face of COVID-19 cases in schools and communities.

Teachers: Use wisdom over shutting schools

THE Bahamas Union of Teachers is “closely monitoring” the spread of COVID-19 in public schools, its president Belinda Wilson urging the Ministry of Education to “utilise wisdom” as examinations get underway.

SCHOOL SHUTDOWN: Queen’s College, SAC and St Anne’s revert to virtual tuition after COVID cases

THREE private schools have reverted to virtual learning, citing positive COVID-19 cases among either students or staff members.

TEACHER FEARS AS PRINCIPAL ATTACKED: Head of LW Young struck on head during altercation

BAHAMAS Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson said the safety of teachers at public schools in the country continues to be a concern, insisting teachers everyday witness violence on campuses and at times have suffered physical harm.

Abaco school ‘still needs another ten teachers’

THE president of the Bahamas Union of Teachers says that Patrick J Bethel High School in Abaco still desperately needs more teachers, about a month after staff held a demonstration on the island.

Wilson not surprised by learning loss survey

AFTER a recent Learning Management System survey revealed the extent of children who did not attend virtual classes, Bahamas Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson said changes must be made to improve the delivery of quality education to students.

Teachers fear for safety, says union president

AFTER the stabbing of a male student at AF Adderley Junior High this week, teachers at the school are concerned about their safety, according to Bahamas Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson.

Union ‘sick and tired’ of teacher shortages

THE Bahamas Union of Teachers said it is “sick and tired” of the rhetoric from the Ministry of Education, calling on officials to rectify the long-standing issue of teacher shortages.

Islands’ schools back to ‘normal’

MOST schools in Grand Bahama and the Family Islands are ready for the full return of face-to-face instruction, according to the Bahamas Union of Teachers, however schools in New Providence need to individually determine their readiness due to their issues.

Teachers union says ‘issues’ not resolved

BAHAMAS Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson has said the thousands of teachers she represents have reached a “breaking point” after seeing no results on multiple issues brought to the attention of officials since September 2021.

New concerns over online learning system

THERE are new complaints about the Ministry of Education’s learning management system, with issues causing some delays in teaching and reports of users being unable to log on to the system.

Union says delay in face-to-face school is ‘understandable’

THE president of the Bahamas Union of Teachers said it is “understandable” the government has delayed the face-to-face component for the reopening of schools next month.

School opening delays ‘a disgrace but not a surprise’

BAHAMAS Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson said it is a “disgrace” but not surprising that three schools will likely not be ready to open in January for hybrid learning with face-to-face instruction.

Teachers union: Health and safety protocols have to be clear

HEALTH and safety protocols have to be clear before any final decision is made regarding the reopening of schools for face-to-face instruction, according to comments sent by Bahamas Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson.

BUT president: Concerns were raised over virtual platform, school repairs

AN alarm was sounded several months ago that not only was the Ministry of Education’s virtual platform inoperable, but that schools were in a dire need for repair, according to Bahamas Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson yesterday.

Wilson hoping for better communication with new minister

BAHAMAS Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson said her union hopes for better communication, clearer COVID-19 safety guidelines and a conclusion to negotiations over an industrial agreement with the new administration.

Teachers union’s anger at failure to finish deal

BAHAMAS Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson has expressed “disgust” and “disappointment” that a new industrial agreement has not been signed with the government despite 14 months of negotiations and 95 percent of the contract being complete.

Day one difficulties with virtual learning system

THE first day of virtual school was plagued with several challenges for some public school students and teachers who were unable to access the Ministry of Education’s virtual learning system yesterday, according to Bahamas Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson.

Union chief warns there must be safety plan for all in schools

BAHAMAS Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson believes schools should reopen in the coming weeks as planned but warned a comprehensive strategy must be implemented for the safety of all.

‘Infections still affecting schools’

BAHAMAS Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson is again calling on education officials to ensure COVID-19 safety protocols are being followed in public schools after claiming infections are still affecting public schools.

Five schools found to have COVID cases

BAHAMAS Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson yesterday expressed concern with the number of suspected COVID-19 cases being recorded in public schools across New Providence, claiming that most of the cases are students, some “as young as five-years-old”.

Union says pupils not ready to sit exams

WITH national examinations scheduled to begin next week, the head of the Bahamas Union of Teachers says some students are currently “inadequately prepared” to sit the tests.

Problems persist in schools reopening

BAHAMAS Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson yesterday said there is still a “lack of information” regarding the strategy the Ministry of Education plans to employ to ensure that teachers and students are able to work in a safe environment as face-to-face classes resume in several islands.

Union wants plan on school reopening

BAHAMAS Union of Teachers is again calling on education officials to release a clear plan on new school health and safety procedures that will allow for a safe return to the classrooms on islands that are still practising virtual learning.

Union chief: Education officials do not have a clue on reopening

BAHAMAS Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson said it is obvious the Ministry of Education and its top officials “do not have a clue” on how schools will reopen safely for face-to-face learning.

Union chief: Taking vaccine should be a choice for teachers

TAKING the COVID-19 vaccine should be a personal choice for teachers, Bahamas Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson said yesterday.

INSIGHT: The numbers don’t lie - the system doesn’t work and needs torn up

WITH the publication of the national exam results at the beginning of the year, one thing is apparent. The performance of Bahamian children in these examinations continues to trend in the wrong direction. Of the 6,073 students who sat the Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) exams, only 365 – an incredibly low six percent – received at least a grade C in five subjects.

‘D minus’ for defence of exam grades

BAHAMAS Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson has accused Ministry of Education officials of trying to twist the narrative about the “poor” BJC and BGCSE examination results.

Schools open? Why not tell the teaching union?

BAHAMAS Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson has accused education officials of not communicating about today’s reopening of schools.

Teachers union president calls for educational year to be repeated

After seeing the results of the country’s national examinations, President of the Bahamas Union of Teachers Belinda Wilson is recommending that the Ministry of Education repeat the 2020 educational year and stop social promotion in schools.

Teacher union chief doubtful over claims of in-person teaching by February

BAHAMAS Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson says she hasn’t given much credence to Education Minister Jeff Lloyd’s expectation that face-to-face learning at public schools will begin by February 2021.

Day two and pupils still can’t log on to lessons

THE Ministry of Education’s public school virtual learning platform remained down for the second day yesterday, according to the Bahamas Union of Teachers.

BUT President claims schools hit by COVID-19 cases

BAHAMAS Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson claimed Friday that a number of schools have been plagued by COVID-19 cases this week.

Teachers at odds over numbers on 'sick out'

ABOUT 1,000 teachers across the country called in sick yesterday in protest over what they described as a lack of COVID-19 health and safety protocols at schools, according to Bahamas Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson.

Schools showdown: Teachers plan mass absence

A PLANNED sit-out of public school teachers could disrupt the resumption of national exams today as educators look to protest the readiness of their institutions for COVID-19.

Union has doubts on schools reopening

PRESIDENT of Bahamas Union of Teachers Belinda Wilson has expressed doubt that the Ministry of Education is ready for the 2020 school year.

BUT president hits out over lack of consultation on school dates

BAHAMAS Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson has criticised the Ministry of Education for not consulting teachers on the dates for the re-opening of schools after it was revealed that teaching lessons for students will begin in late September.

Union raises concerns as exams get underway

THE first day of the sitting of the national BJC and BGCSE exams had some challenges, according to Bahamas Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson. The exams are controversially being held later than usual this year because of COVID-19 after months of school closures forced students to learn virtually.

BUT president: Union yet to receive plan for schools reopening

BAHAMAS Union of Teachers (BUT) Belinda Wilson said the union has yet to receive a plan or framework from the Ministry of Education for the reopening of schools.

Wilson: Heads should roll over teacher shortage

BAHAMAS Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson said “heads should roll” due to the “perennial” shortage of teachers, adding more than 100 teachers are still waiting to be placed in schools by the Ministry of Education since the 2019-2020 school year started.

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