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Yesterday Cabinet approved the proposal for the establishment of the Teacher’s Service Commission. It was submitted and approved despite vocal opposition from the teacher’s union which has been clamouring for more time to review the legislation. But Education Minister Patrick Faber says the teachers have had a year and that was more than enou8gh. This morning he defended his position.

Hon. Patrick Faber, Minister of Education
“Nothing is written in stone. It is final when the Governor General signs it into law. Until then it is a process and I hope that the union officials, I hope that other stakeholders in education will understand that when we talk about due process, when we talk about consultation, it is not just talk.

We are not just telling them that to get out of listening to their concerns, not at all. Even that process will give serious consideration to their concerns and can still affect changes on the final documents. So we hope that the union will see that and will think about that seriously in their discussions today. I have made a statement publicly last night on the television and on the radio I tried to call the radio stations as much as I could this morning to get that message out and I hope that you help me to take that message to all stakeholders of education, that this is a business of involving everybody. But certainly there is a point where we have to move forward and I think after one year of consultation we are at that point.”

But there’s a critical update. The BNTU met with Minister Faber this afternoon and both sides reached an agreement. A press release from the Ministry of Education issued this evening says that time will be allotted during November for BNTU officials to meet with branch members to discuss the Education and Training Bill. A Ministry of Education official will be on-hand to address concerns and make clarifications. Any amendment will be made after it is tabled in the House.