The government is taking decisive steps to deal with the administrative weaknesses that were exposed in the Ministry of Education by last week’s industrial action by teachers employed in the public school system.
The Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers instructed its members to return to the classroom on Tuesday following five days of industrial action over the non-payment of several allowances and perks.
While Prime Minister Gaston Browne and other senior officials in the government made it clear that the payment to the teachers was not the issue, as administrative weaknesses within the ministry of education were exposed and blamed for the hold-up in making the payments
Early on Tuesday, in what some have described as ‘a significant development’, the government announced a high-level reassignment within the Ministry of Education.
According to informed sources, effective immediately, Permanent Secretary, Rosa Greenaway, has been reassigned and will now serve as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social Transformation. This move comes in the wake of intense public scrutiny and union criticism regarding delayed teacher upgrades and unpaid allowances—issues which led to widespread teacher protests and disruptions to the education system in recent weeks.
Replacing Greenaway at the Ministry of Education, is Permanent Secretary, Ena Dalso-Henry, who has been described as a ‘no-nonsense’ administrator and manager and who previously was assigned to the Ministry of Health. This move is seen as a role central to executing government’s policy and addressing administrative bottlenecks that have plagued the Ministry of Education.
Greenaway heads for the Ministry of Social Transformation as the new Permanent Secretary.
Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary, Colin O’Keiffe, is expected to replace Dalso-Henry in the Ministry of Health as the permanent secretary responsible for administration and the ministry headquarters.
The reassignment is widely viewed as a response to mounting pressure from educators and the public, with Prime Minister Gaston Browne himself expressing frustration over bureaucratic delays and lack of responsiveness within the Ministry. He recently urged the Minister of Education to “move people” if necessary to restore efficiency and accountability.
This leadership change is expected to signal a new chapter in the Ministry’s handling of educational affairs and a stronger commitment to resolving outstanding issues raised by the teachers’ union.
