There’s no telling whether thousands of students in Antigua and Barbuda will return to the classroom on Monday as striking teachers are expected to keep up the pressure.
The Easter holiday has been extended in the neighboring island because teachers have decided to stay off the job until their demands are met.
The educators say they want 24-hour security in their schools, reclassification, and better working conditions.
In a press statement this weekend, the teachers say if all their demands are not met by the government before the start of the workday, they will engage in Industrial Action by way of a “sit-in.”
Teachers say they have no faith in the Ministry of Education and it cannot be trusted to fulfill the basic responsibilities to teachers and must be held accountable for this failure in the execution of their duties.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Daryll Matthew says his ministry has done its best so far and is hoping the Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers will withdraw its threat of industrial action slated for tomorrow.
“I believe that we have done all that can be done under the circumstances. We simply cannot snap our fingers and all the camera magically appears in all public schools, we cannot wave a major wand and the compound is immediately surveyed and fence erected” he said
He said ex-gratia payments to all 34 eligible teachers have either been made, or the teachers have indicated they will collect their cheques on Monday.
For too long teachers have been overworked, underpaid, underappreciated, and undervalued. Although the teaching profession is considered to be a noble one, many teachers live in subtle poverty. It is time for us to give them their due worth as they are indispensable in the development of our society.
Teachers, stay united in your determination to be justly rewarded. These regional governments find money to pay millions to foreign entertainers ( Burner Boy et al), but stubbornly refuse to adequately compensate our nation builders (teachers).
If we want to secure our children’s future, we must take great care of our teachers. Remember this, TEACHERS touch the future.