Classes in public schools across the country are expected to return to normal today following an emergency meeting on Monday between the teachers’ union and government to discuss the issues which led public school educators to take industrial action yesterday.
Yesterday’s meeting, held at the Ministry of Legal Affairs, included Labour Minister, Steadroy Benjamin, officials from the Ministry of Education, Sports and Creative Industries and the Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers (A&BUT).
The agenda centred on issues raised by the union on behalf of its members which included improved security, a promised honorarium for department heads and teacher upgrades.
While the finer details of the meeting are unknown, a source revealed that the government’s side, led by Minister Benjamin gave the undertaking that the concerns related to security in public schools to prevent vandalism and secure the safety for teachers and students will be addressed, in full, by the end of March, 2023.
As it relates to the honorarium for educators who have been appointed to head departments, updates on the progress of this commitment are to be provided by the Ministry of Education to the A&BUT.
Upgrading teachers who have completed higher education is an ongoing process that will continue.
The A&BUT agreed to give their employers and their representatives 21 days in which to resolve the issues raised by having them rectified before the end of the deadline or by proposing a plan and timeline in which they will be settled.
Should the government fail to fulfil its side of the bargain, the union has indicated that its industrial action will resume.
It is believed, however, that the A&BUT has accepted the timeline proposed by the government to address the concerns raised.
Meanwhile, Minister of Education, Sports and Creative Industries, Daryll Matthew, insists that the government has been fulfilling its promises to improve security at public school plants across the island.
In an appearance on the Browne and Browne show on Pointe FM on Saturday, Minister Matthew said every effort is being made to ensure the safety of stakeholders in education.
“We committed to putting adequate lighting on our school plants and we committed to improving the presence of the physical security guards. To date, I’m happy to say that following the procurement of the lights and cameras, we have installed cameras in about three of our schools, Irene B. Williams is one, Clare Hall [Secondary] is one, I believe they have now got to Princess Margaret or if not, it’s going to be happening soon.
“So, we have been living up to the commitment that we gave to the Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers,” Matthew said.
The minister of education rejected claims that the recent invasion of Clare Hall Secondary School could have been prevented if there were more security guards on duty.
During the incident at the end of January, two people, armed with a machete and golf club, gained access to the campus by scaling the school’s rear wall in search of a student whom they intended to attack.
Matthew said the unfortunate incident did not amount to a breach of the agreement between the government and A&BUT.
He pledged, however, that the administration will continue the work it has started to make public school plants safer for their faculty, students, and support staff.
