Teachers of the Lowe Sound Primary School in Andros are calling on Ministry of Education officials to reassign them, claiming that they feel threatened by parents who are demanding the removal of the principal.
On Monday, Bahamas Union of Teachers Secretary General Belinda Wilson told The Bahama Journal that five teachers and the principal have requested transfers from the Lowe Sound Primary School because they fear for their safety.
According to Mrs. Wilson, two weeks ago, a petition was sent to the Ministry of Education by the parents to have the principal, Cardinal Woods, removed.
The parents claim that the educators are complacent and lack leadership skills.
Mrs. Wilson said these claims are not valid. She also advised that BUT officials recently traveled to Andros for a town meeting on the matter.
She said Ministry of Education officials promised to resolve the problem, but up to Monday, no resolution was in sight.
According to Mrs. Wilson, some parents have been going to the school and blocking the gate, walking into the classrooms and taking their children out, while threatening teachers.
But no parent could be reached on Monday to respond to the allegations.
Describing the teachers as “traumatized”, Mrs. Wilson said that the union will not sit back and let parents or anyone threaten teachers.
“From the union’s standpoint, we are not encouraging any teacher to go to Lowe Sound to teach,” Mrs. Wilson said. “Any teacher who decides to go to Lowe Sound and teach will do it voluntarily.”
Mr. Woods told The Bahama Journal that the Lowe Sound Primary School has a history of disgruntled parents issues that go back some 15 years.
He said the 140 students would be in a worse position if the educators are reassigned, but believes it would be a wakeup call for the parents.
“Education is very important,” Mr. Woods said. “I think there is a way to go about doing things. If parents or guardians have a problem they should feel free to contact the administrators rather than writing up a petition for transfer.
“They must first and foremost consider the children and follow proper procedure.”
Union Shop Steward at the Lowe Sound Primary School Ivis Gaitor said the situation has worsened since the new school year started at the beginning of the month.
“Just knowing that we are going to be transferred is a relief,” Ms. Gaitor said. “We are all very relieved.”
According to Mrs. Wilson, union officials met with Cecil Longley, deputy director of education with responsibility for teacher placement, and he assured them that he would do everything in his power to have them reassigned.
By: Stephen Gay, The Bahama Journal
