Last night, we told you about the press release from the Ministry of Education noting that they still have not been able to finalize the list of schools countrywide where teachers will be paid their hardship allowance.
You'll know by now that this stipend of between $100 to $200 is paid to teachers who have to slog through rough terrain, or those who traverse long distances to get to work. The BNTU complained that the Ministry's revised list for this year disenfranchised some teachers because either their schools were cut from the list, or their allowance was cut because the Ministry's officials assessed that their hardship has lessened over the years.
So, the Ministry stood down their list and invited recommendations from the Joint Education Staff Relations Council, of which the BNTU is a member. In the weeks since they've sought additional input, the Ministry laments the fact that the BNTU has not offered any input for their re-consideration. On the other side, the BNTU says that conducting these discussions via email or written communication simply won't drive home the point why some schools should be placed back on the list, and why some should have their allowance increased. They've requested a face to face meeting between their branch leaders and the Ministry's technocrats so that they can do a better job of explaining the hardship.
The Ministry has agreed, but it appears that Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber isn't too pleased with what he sees as unnecessary complications. Today, the press met up with him at another event, and he said, that from his perspective, the BNTU is attempting to dictate the Ministry of Education on how policies should be implemented. Here's how he explained why:
Hon. Patrick Faber, Minister of Education
"When it was that the ministry put out the notice that new hardship list would be the list starting for the new school year. The B.N.T.U. protested this and say they had not given contributions. From that time we said okay we will invite you to put forward those concerns the meeting on the 17th I think it was. The B.N.T.U. insists that they don't want to put forward their concerns in that manner. They want to dictate how they can put forward their concerns. They want to dictate a meeting. I would remind them again, it is the Ministry of Education that makes policy for education in this country. As a courtesy and we try, we always try to do this because it is the best interest of the Ministry to make those policies in consultation with the stakeholders. That is why we consult the Join Staff Relations Council. We've given them an opportunity to yet again bring those concerns just for them to reach to the meeting of the 17th with no concerns presented in writing and then insisting that they need a special meeting. They want to dictate. I am sorry, but we have to maintain that the government is the government and people elected the government to lead. It would seem to me that the B.N.T.U. wants to dictate."
"I've watch as president Elena went to Graham Creek, it is on record from 2 weeks before she went to Graham Creek. While I was there on the acting prime minister's tour I went to Corazon Creek and in fact the teacher from Graham Creek and from Machakila were present in that town hall meeting that I had and I told them that I will make my way. It is there on the record. It was videoed and everything that I would make my way in October. This month. Because of the tough nature of the campaigns schedule or the touring schedule that I was on, was also chaired of the national September celebrations for that month. So I told them after things died down I would come in October. I plan to go to those 2 villages to see what the problems are."
And as you saw, DPM Faber mentioned Graham Creek, and the extreme hardship that the teacher and principal at that Government school go through to educate the children of that village on the southwestern edge of Toledo. We've shown you exactly what that hardship looks like, and today Faber said that through their own actions, the BNTU is delaying the allowance that these teachers deserve. He added that there could well be a possibility that the Graham Creek Teachers could qualify for a bigger hardship allowance:
Hon. Patrick Faber, Minister of Education
"For them to highlight Graham Creek which is by the way on the highest level category 1 of the hardship allowance. Everybody knows that there are some districts in this country that is really in dire straits. Nobody denies that. In fact if the B.N.T.U. were serious in getting better allowance for those persons, then the right thing to do is to conclude the ten year and ongoing still collective bargaining negotiations which they are holding up as we speak from concluding before stating a next cycle."
"You saw that the President complain that, in fact she had written to me about a meeting that we are to have to deal some remaining elements of Proposal Twenty Two. She is right but it was the President who said that it's not wise for use to do the meeting in September because the reopening of school and so vigorous of an agenda of the time. She is right. I was not able to make the October second meeting but it is almost like baby who wants to cry. The President has me on Whatsapp and when it is convenient for her she send me a message. Let us communicate; there is no need to quarrel. I have indicated to the B.N.T.U. my desire to meet on those proposals which I have said to the wider negotiating group those are the only maters outstanding. We do not need to keep the negotiations alive just to deal with those matters. Those matters can be separated and put in the Ministry of Education and the B.N.T.U. and they have insisted no. Until they are satisfied that we are going to solve those issues which is clearly and education issue and they will keep the negotiation open and it is keeping it open prohibit them from even getting to the point where we can discuss a more suitable, adequate hardship allowance. The portion of the collective bargaining negotiations that dealt with the allowances for hardship were dealt with a long time ago. Remember we signed a partial agreement. So there is no way we can revisit that. So to go to the various villages and say oh look how hard it is. We know about that hardship. Belizeans know that in some parts of this country it's hard to access. That's not a secret. To add to that I was very displeased with the teacher and the principal from Graham Creek, because they were at the town hall meeting. Its a government school. You know we try to take care of our government schools. They know fully well. In fact when I was at Corazon Creek, the teacher came to me, he said minister thank you. This was before the Elena and the media went to Graham Creek. Thank you, because we know that the materials to fix the teachers is on the way. They knew that it was just a matter of time before the materials for that school house or teachers' house was to be delivered and for the house to be renovated. They knew that the school had just received renovations as well. So it is disingenuous to say oh we are left out here to the mercy of the world to walk. That is an area where the teachers should be living in village, because of the very difficult means of getting to the school."
Email
Print