Teachers’ union concerned
THE Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) is not at all pleased with the way teachers in the public service are being treated.
In a release issued to the media, the BUT said while it appreciates the efforts being made to assist children during these challenging times, it was concerned that the Ministry of Education was putting students first, while consistently putting the teachers in its service last.
“Teachers who are the solitary caregivers of elderly parents, single parents, whose spouses are among the corps of essential service providers, visually compromised and/or currently pursuing studies are among those readily identifiable among those in need of special consideration. Specifically, the burdensome expectations placed upon students-teachers at Erdiston College is inhumane,” the Union stated.
The BUT explained that despite the current circumstances, these students-teachers are expected to maintain the full academic workload required, including three-hour online evening sessions, while still planning for and delivering online instruction, and offering assistance to their students. The physical and mental hardship it places on them, the BUT maintained, is a “patent concern”.
“While this concern was among those put to the Ministry by the BUT on April 17, most unfortunately, some oversight has occurred. This is unacceptable. Again, one cannot be sincerely putting students first while ignoring the plight of teachers.”
The Union continued, “The BUT reiterates that it is the responsibility of the employer to assess the impact of the workload – especially in these unprecedented times – where working from home is poised to become increasingly normalised under the extended state of emergency. It is imperative that the workload of teachers be monitored in order to safeguard against physical fatigue in a time where unique opportunities for stress, i.e. emotional and psychological duress, are numerous and potentially daunting.”
Additionally, the Union contends that in the “interest of clarity and greater transparency”, they wish to be apprised of developments relevant to education, their membership and their students. Moreover, the Union said that industrial relations best practices should also be adhered to and that they are keen to ensure that best practices are not ignored and its members are not marginalised.
“The Union is as mindful of the pressures being faced by students as it is of teachers’ concerns. These pressures have served to frustrate the efforts of some teachers as they attempt to motivate those students whom they have managed to engage thus far. Without being repetitive, there remains a number of students who are yet to be contacted for a number of reasons; some of which have already been identified,” the Union stated.
In that vein, the BUT said it expects the necessary conversation will be had in a timely manner, in order for the various issues to be “addressed satisfactorily and mutually agreeable arrangements” reached.