President of Barbados Union of Teachers Urges Action on Education System Challenges

President of the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) Rudy Lovell has called for action on several pressing issues facing the education system.

From the escalating school violence and security issues to infrastructure and staffing, he addressed a range of concerns during his keynote speech at the BUT’s 50th Anniversary Awards Gala on Saturday night at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.

“Violence and indiscipline in schools have reached alarming levels. We have witnessed violent incidents, from stabbings to teachers being threatened by parents, and these are not isolated events. This cannot continue!” he declared.

The gala, celebrating the union’s 50 years of service, was themed Five Decades Strong: BUT 50 And Beyond.

Lovell said the problems facing the education system threatened the very core of what educators were trying to achieve.

“We must ask ourselves, how did we get here? What are we doing wrong? More importantly, what can we do to fix it?”

He pointed out that the root causes of these ongoing conflicts ranged from social issues, trauma to economic hardship. He added they underscore the need for dedicated facilities with trained counsellors and a closer partnership with social workers, mental health professionals and community leaders.

“Children with conduct disorders are causing disruptions in classrooms, even in primary schools, and without specialised support both they and their peers will continue to struggle. Additionally, parents must play a vital role in combating deviant behaviour by teaching conflict resolution at home and promoting dialogue over aggression,” he said.

Security in schools was another bugbear. Earlier this month, classes were interrupted at Deighton Griffith Secondary School when a student brandished a weapon on his peer after a dispute. Last month, a student of Alexandra School was slashed with a knife by a schoolmate, while there was an incident at Hilda Skeene Primary School in which a parent entered the compound and made threats to a teacher.

Previously, the BUT submitted a list of 20 schools that it said were in desperate need of security officers.

“The absence of security guards in some 20 schools, despite having security huts, is unacceptable. We need initiative-taking measures, not reactive ones. To protect our schools includes ensuring every school has adequate security measures, namely trained, physically-fit security personnel,” he said.

Under-reported

Despite the publicised incidents, the president charged that some violent

cases were still being under-reported by educators. He therefore urged principals and teachers to be more forthright in addressing these issues head-on, understanding that refusing to do so merely leaves the problem to fester with no solution.

School readiness was another matter discussed, with the importance placed on infrastructure and adequate staffing to ensure students make a smooth start to the academic year. Over the summer, several primary, nursery and secondary schools were involved in the summer maintenance programme, and while the BUT welcomed the repairs, Lovell said they also called for the programme to receive greater priority, with contracts issued a week before school’s end and the prompt allocation of funds.

“The Ministry of Education . . . has signalled its intention to roll out a comprehensive school maintenance programme. While this promise has been made, we will hold our applause until the plan is implemented and we see real changes.

“Additionally, we support the Ministry of Education’s initiative to modernise our schools as this is long overdue. The education sector requires a long-term building modernisation policy, ensuring that buildings are not only repaired but also upgraded to meet the 21st century and include accessibility for the differently-abled,” he added.

Lovell also advocated for the appropriate notice of transfers and reassignment for teachers and principals. He referred to a 1997 agreement which stipulated that principals would receive one term’s notice for transfers, while teachers should get six weeks’ notice to plan for relocations.

He expressed the BUT’s intent to advocate for teachers to receive an annual allowance for classroom supplies, ensuring they are not burdened with the cost of teaching.

The union will also push for a review of teachers’ salaries and benefits “to ensure that educators are compensated in line with the value they bring to society”. He said their salary issues include overdue increments, unpaid allowances and incorrect salary brackets, which have persisted for years in some cases.

Lovell said retirees often experienced delays in receiving their gratuity and pension benefits. (JRN)