Hours after an early end to the Hilary term, hundreds of teachers are uncertain about when schools will reopen and what format will be used to teach when that time comes.
President of the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU) Mary Redman explained that as Government maneuvres unchartered territory with the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers are hoping for decision-making that takes their best interest into consideration as well as the safety of the students and ancillary staff.
“We don’t know how long school is going to be closed for, because this is a very fluid situation and we just recorded [three] more cases. These are unchartered waters, so we need to be flexible about a deviation from what was originally planned and we must be willing to be creative and I know that the teachers are going to be willing to do what it takes in the best interest of the country,” Redman said.
She declared: “We stand ready to meet with ministry officials to determine how to move forward after our members have had their rest and in a context of physical safety and mental comfort and ease that we do not feel in relation to this COVID-19.
Just the day before, the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) appeared on the verge of a strike as leaders questioned a decision by Education Minister Santia Bradshaw to continue with school. This was despite a directive by the Government that gatherings be limited to no more than 100 people.
Just before the clock struck midnight, Bradshaw announced the closure of schools for the remainder of the term.
“We as a union are relieved that the ministry has modified its position in relation to the closure of schools and I have no doubt that students, support staff and parents are equally relieved by this decision. I am certain that they have been genuinely and reasonably concerned about the COVID-19 virus and the potential for its rapid spread given the numbers that operate in schools on a daily basis, the close proximity and because so many of our students are packed into school buses and ZR’s on a daily basis,” Redman told Barbados TODAY.
“The social distancing that is a stated preventative measure cannot take place in the schools and certainly not in our schools and those are only some of the considerations which must be taken into account,” she added.
When asked whether teachers would be willing to move classes online, the union president indicated that they were “not unwilling”, but stressed the need for intense training within a short period.
“I don’t know that they have expressed an unwillingness to do so, but of course as the Minister indicated some level of training would have to take place and so I expect that there are plans to do that,” said the union leader.
“Schools were closed just yesterday, so I don’t know what the plans are and things are just up in the air. Until we know what is really happening, then we really can’t speak to anything,” she added.
Redman also does not foresee a problem with teachers being paid regardless of whether they are in the classrooms or not.
Quoting recent statistics, she argued that closing schools could reduce the rate of infection by over 23 per cent and delay the peak of infection causing fewer persons to be sick while preventing emergency officials from becoming overwhelmed.
Redman again stressed that numerous teachers currently suffer from non-communicable diseases making them susceptible to worse outcomes after contracting the virus.
She also cited new evidence which indicates that children are now faced with the same risks as the elderly.
Efforts to reach Barbados Union of Teachers President, Sean Spencer for his views were unsuccessful.
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