The latest industrial action by teachers who have downed tools in the public school system over non-payment of certain allowances to a small number of teachers, led the Cabinet to make contact with senior technicians to get clarity on the issue.
Reports are that the Cabinet on Wednesday held a discussion with the Accountant General, by telephone; and, with the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, in person.
According to the officials, it appears that arrears date back to the Covid-19 pandemic when many payments were put on hold. Although all vouchers were submitted to the Treasury in November 2024, the Free Balance system utilized by the Treasury would pose a challenge, rejecting several vouchers; it required new vouchers to be re-issued.
“The Treasury reported that all vouchers have now been processed and cheques submitted on Tuesday and Wednesday, to meet all payments due. The Permanent Secretary acknowledged that additional checks were received Wednesday but their names required double-checking which was not complete when she left for the Cabinet meeting,” Cabinet sources stated.
Accordingly, the Ministry has informed the various Principals of each of the schools that cheques are now available for the teachers. The Cabinet expressed the view that return of the teachers to teaching their charges would re-commence immediately.
The Cabinet repeated its exhortation to both teachers and their Union to take into account that the students bear no responsibility for the disagreement that exists, and to remind that the education of the future generation is always to be treated as highly valued.
