BUT president Ida Poitier-Turnquest said the government must devise a plan that would allow monies to be released at the beginning of the school vacation and not two to three weeks before school opens.
“The new excuse that the budget is not ready for draw downs is unacceptable as we had the same problem when the financial year ended in December,” she said in a televised back to school address.
While more than 60,000 students were scheduled to start a new academic year on Monday, several schools throughout New Providence remained closed as a result of unfinished repairs. Classes are scheduled to begin at Yellow Elder and Adelaide Primary Schools and CR Walker this coming Monday, while all others are already in session.
The government spent in excess of $20 million this academic year to carry out repair, construction and expansion projects to schools.
“It is unfortunate that despite a huge effort by the minister to effect repairs, many of our schools are still not ready to accept our students. Construction material, heavy equipment, debris and workmen are still to be found on the school grounds.
“It must be understood that even though the contractor may complete his job on Sunday evening of Monday morning, the teacher must be allowed time to prepare the classroom before the students can enter,” said Mrs Poitier-Turnquest.
She added that even though most schools may have opened their doors, teachers would have to use this week to prepare their rooms and lessons before they are able to begin teaching.
Mrs Poitier-Turnquest also spoke out about the untimely fashion of teacher transfers.
“We are asking the Ministry to allow the union to assist them in development a plan, over the next nine months, that would put an end to the last minute transfer of teachers.
“Teachers should know where they would be stationed before leaving school in June. Only in extraordinary cases should transfers take place after this time,” she explained.
Reportedly, some teachers were given less than two weeks notice to move themselves and their families from the southern Bahamas to the north.
Despite these challenges however, Mrs Poitier-Turnquest said the union looks forward to working with the ministry, parents and students to bring much needed transformation to the public education system.
By: KEVA LIGHTBOURNE, The Nassau Guardian
