Public Primary School Principals Criticize Ministry of Education Treatment and Indignity: APPSP President

The Association of Public Primary School Principals (APPSP) on Monday lambasted the Ministry of Education, claiming principals are being treated like “chattel” and subjected to indignity.

In an interview with Barbados TODAY, APPSP president Olwin Walker expressed a range of concerns, including sudden reassignments, exclusion from job interviews, and delays in salary payments.

She contended that these actions breach the Public Service Act, particularly Section 12.3 (a)(iv), which relates to human dignity.

On the sudden reassignments, Walker declared: “It is unfair. We are not treating our principals as though they are human, we are treating them like chattel and it is sad. But this is what you do with chattel, it is moveable; there is no consideration.”

According to the APPSP, 11 public primary school principals were informed of their reassignments just last Thursday evening, giving them only one day to prepare for new roles before staff meetings.

Walker argued that this practice breaks from past norms, where principals would typically be consulted a term in advance of transfers. If this could no longer be facilitated, she said, a month’s notice along with consultation would be adequate time to inform principals they would be headed to a different school.

“It is a lot to expect an individual to go into a new environment and pick up and start to function, keep the system rolling and be effective,” she said.

Walker said one of the matters that has caused “unprecedented distress” among the association’s members is the appointment of principals.

“For several years, APPSP has indicated that to have over 40 principals acting in the post was untenable. During June 2024, the Ministry [of Education] along with personnel from the Ministry of the Public Service conducted interviews for the post of principal and excluded 24 of the acting principals who they deemed to be ineligible,” she explained.

“This was although every acting principal had consistently carried out their duties at each school and had received favourable reports at the end of each period of assignment. To make matters worse, it took two months before those who were given permanent appointments to the posts were notified.”

Adamant that the ministry had to explain the excluded principals, Walker added: “When are you going to call these other 24 principals and provide them with an opportunity for security of tenure?”