Easter vacation in Antigua and Barbuda has been extended for students after the government received reports that teachers will stage industrial action from Tuesday.
The Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers informed the government about their intention to engage in industrial action starting April 11, in a letter a few days ago.
The Director of Education Claire Browne said over the weekend that “in light of this and because children cannot be left unsupervised or under-supervised, particularly at this time of immense challenge with antisocial behavior among young people, the Ministry of Education has decided to extend the Easter Vacation by four days, resorting to the traditional two weeks.”
The additional time, according to the education director, will allow time for the ministry to work closely with the A&BUT and other agencies to arrive at an acceptable position.
“The Ministry of Education, Sports, and Creative Industries remains committed to working with the Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers to ensure that learning environments are healthy, safe, and conducive to learning and that all teachers receive their due worth,” Browne wrote.
The Union said the government has failed to address several issues including security at school, fencing, and teacher upgrades.
A team from Lands and Surveys, the ministry, and other stakeholders will meet with the union on Tuesday to further discuss the issue of security, according to the government.
With inflation constantly on the rise, wages and salaries stagnant for multiple years at a time , the economic conditions of civil servants, more particularly teachers and nurses are becoming untenable.
Civil servants in our part of the world are too trusting and docious. To get what you deserve would not be placed in your laps. You have to rigorously agitate for it.
The ‘leaders’ in the OECS, specifically Antigua & Barbuda and Dominica, live a life of prodigious wealthiness while hardworking civil servants ( nurses and teachers) work their fingers to the bone for pitiable salaries. Can’t be right.