Ministry of Education Urges Teacher Unions to Collaborate for Education System Reforms

A senior Ministry of Education official has urged teacher unions to view the ministry as a collaborator rather than as an enemy, issuing a call for unity as officials embark on the largest education system reforms in generations.

Deputy Chief Education Officer Joy Adamson conveyed a message that administrators and educators all had the common goal of achieving quality education for all that could only be achieved if all parties worked together. She was addressing the opening of a two-day executive meeting of the Caribbean Union of Teachers (CUT) at the Barbados Beach Club on Maxwell Coast Road.

Adamson stressed the importance of collaborative efforts. She encouraged a non-adversarial approach to negotiations and urged teachers’ unions to foster camaraderie among members while maintaining positive relationships with employers.

“My message is simple, let us work together,” she declared. “So how do we together tackle teacher burnout? How do we work together to ensure that as teachers fight for their rights, that the education of our children is not compromised? So how do we ensure that our shop stewards understand the industrial process and grievance procedures? As teacher unions, how do you encourage camaraderie among your members, but also facilitate positive relationships between them and their employer?

“We need to be working as partners, we need to be collaborating, we need to keep the communication channels open and discuss before taking action. We need to forge alliances with the necessary agencies. We need to pull together because we share a common goal – quality education for all. Let’s work together . . . . As we tackle the worldwide issues of climate change, natural disasters, learning loss due to the pandemic, [and] deteriorating school plants, let us work together.”

Emphasising the importance of working collectively, Adamson said that trust among stakeholders is built through continuous communication, training, education, and a shared commitment to quality education. She urged teachers to engage with the ministry regarding educational transformation and avoid a negative disposition towards it.

“My ministry here in Barbados has heard the cry from the nation to chart a new path and transform the educational system in Barbados. To this end, we have started consultations with all stakeholders . . . . We have engaged with the unions here . . . and have formed several committees including teachers. Yet, we hear that teachers are not involved in the reform.”