Barbados Union of Teachers Criticizes Lengthy Process of School Closures Due to Environmental Issues

The Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) says the process of closing schools when there are environmental or other issues is too cumbersome and lengthy.

Speaking earlier this week when a foul odour affected the Eden Lodge Primary School for the second time in as many weeks, BUT president Rudy Lovell urged the Ministry of Education to trust the principals.

“We are of the opinion that the ministry needs to trust the principals who they have on the ground,” he said as he explained the process involved when there was a perceived issue at the school.

“What happens when there is an incident at the school, the principal makes contact with the Ministry of Education, who then dispatches an education officer, who then has to report back to the ministry – to the same ministry that the principal reported to. In the meantime, whatever is impacting the school is significantly impacting those persons who are still on the compound.”

Lovell emphasised that the process was too lengthy.

“Would you expect persons to remain on the compound while the chain of command is being going through?” he asked.

Environmental problem

Lovell said they received several reports from teachers who indicated they were ailing as a result of an environmental problem but could not leave the premises until the all-clear was given.

“It has happened on several occasions. The decision can take two hours, sometimes sooner, sometimes longer. It is based on the availability of the minister and the report submitted to the ministry at the time.

“But our take is there is a principal at a school who is charged with running the institution and if something is happening at the school the ministry should be able to trust their judgement,which they don’t often do. They send the education officer to the school to report the same thing that the principal has already reported, which is a duplication.

“And by the time that response comes, it could be two or three hours down the road. So it’s unfortunate, and we would want to see a speedier response to indicating whether schools should be closed or not and for the ministry to trust the judgement of the principals who are on the ground.”

Issues

Since the beginning of the Michaelmas term, several schools – both primary and secondary – have been plagued with environmental issues. Last week, teachers stayed away from Parkinson Secondary School after they made repeated complaints about bed bugs and other issues. There were also reports that indicated that several teachers at the still closed Grantley Adams Memorial School complained of headaches, sore throat and runny eyes before the school was closed after a chemical odour was detected.

When asked about the procedure for closing schools when a situation arises, the ministry’s communications consultant, Gaynelle Marshall, stated: “The final word rests with the ministry. It is an absolute last resort.” (MB)