Dominican teachers are being encouraged to “represent themselves well” in the teaching profession.
This was according to Education Minister Octavia Alfred who was delivering remarks at the 22nd Teachers Annual General Meeting this week.
“I speak because in this room there is not at least one representative from the quarter of the schools in Dominica,” she remarked. “There is no school today.”
She continued, “I stayed in the system for 34 years before where I am at, so I am still in the system.”
Alfred added, “Even if it was a school day and we had offered that day off for people to be here, some people will still not be here.”
She called for action research in order to encourage teachers to represent themselves well.
She went on to state that teachers must be more “business-like” in their approach to their profession.
“We must show seriousness, and we must be serious to be taken seriously,” Alfred said. “We must earn our respect as teachers. We cannot only fill a room when we are talking about money.”
Alfred mentioned, however, during her years as a teacher, “Today was a significant day for us.”
“Today was a day that we marked on our calendar, today was a day that we looked forward to, today was a day that mattered,” Alfred noted. “We made today count because it was about our business as teachers.”
Meanwhile, President of the DAT Mervin Alexander called on Dominican teachers to unite.
“I know it’s not going to be easy because we know our salaries are small, but as I said again we can get what we want only if we unite,” he urged.
According to him, as long as teachers are divided, “we will get nothing.”
He said, for example, that Jamaican teachers are probably the most aggressive teachers in the region.
“Whatever they want they get it, they don’t joke because they recognize the power that they have…they are united,” Alexander stated.
He continued, “I think about ourselves as teachers and helping each other that is what we have to do.”
Alexander stressed that teachers are fighting against each other rather than cooperating with each other.
“Those of you who are here today, go back to your schools and speak to your teachers,” he encouraged.
He pointed out that DAT is the representative of all teachers in Dominica.
“Some of them come to us only when they have problems and even if they are not members of DAT they still come to us,” Alexander revealed. “That should not be, yes we recognize the problems, yes you can come to us, but other activities get involved as well too.”
He called on teachers to work as a team.
“Unless that happens we are in for trouble,” Alexander stated.
The teachers won’t stand because they are politically divided. The civil service to which they belong is politically divided as well. Gone are the days when teachers and other public officials would stand up for country and profession. So many teachers and other public officials are politically compromised? This is the main problem.
This place is in trouble!!
Disgraced Minister Pampalam throwing shades at the teachers. Imagine the WORST Education Minister in the history of Dominica and quite probably the Caribbean excoriating the teachers.
Madam Pampalam , self praise is no recommendation. You were no exemplary figure as a teacher. You got your present position as minister strictly on your political affiliation with the congenital, Lying Roosevelt.
If Roosevelt were not in that position, and even though you are a Labour diehard supporter, you would never be in your present position. You are eminently unqualified for the current position that you hold.
Teachers in Antigua are presently standing up to their government and asserting their rights to better pay and working conditions.
In Jamaica, teachers took industrial action and demanded better remuneration. At first, the government threatened them to return to their classes or else. The teachers held their grounds and the recalcitrant government acquiesced to their demands.
COURAGE is one of the most important virtues. To gain success in life you have to show a spine, be courageous. Cowards don’t accomplish anything. Division brings destruction. Unite teachers for your rights.
To the teachers I would like you to consider this: ” When there is no enemies within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you.”
The minister should not be in the meeting period.