Parents head to Ministry for transfers
By Barry Alleyne | Wed, January 18, 2012 - 12:49 PM
More than 120 angry parents of students of the Alexandra School gathered at the headquarters of the Ministry of Education early this morning, preparing to officially apply for transfers for their children from the St Peter School.
The parents pooled together in cars around 10.40 a.m, abruptly attending a Parent Teacher Association meeting at the school, and immediately heading to the ministry's offices, after president Carl Benskin received a phone call from a ministry official, informing him president of the Barbados Secondary Teachers Union, Mary Redman had refused to attend a meeting earlier arranged by the Minister of Education, Ronald Jones, and which would also have included Minister of Labour, Esther Byer-Suckoo, Attorney General, Adriel Brathwaite, and Parliamentary secretary in the Prime Minister's office, Senator Harry Husbands.
The parents had originally planned, and had received police permission to picket the ministry's offices on Friday, but fast-tracked their action, after the BSTU chief opted not to take part in today's last ditch efforts at solving an impasse that has left more than 800 students without teachers since the first day of the second school term.
Thirty minutes after the parents arrived, they were invited into the ministry's conference room, where Chief Education Officer, Laurie King, assured them the ministry was doing everything humanly possible to bring a resolution to the situation.
In response to a question from the parents' spokesperson Stacy Briggs-Saunders, King said providing temporary teachers to the school remains a possibility, but noted that such a move may prompt stiff opposition from Barbados Secondary Teachers Union.
"I can assure you that everything humanly possibly is being done. Every effort will be made to make sure this time will be made up for the students," King promised.
Ministry officials also confirmed they were in receipt of a copy of a number of emails, purported to have been sent out by teachers on the social network Facebook.
"I'm hoping it won't come to the point where parents have to seek transfers," King added.
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If this was in America so many different court actions would have taken place by now.There are so many breaches occurring in law that it’s not funny.Every one showing up at the meetings with legal counsel,is proof that laws are being broken..If the parents could have afforded some high profile attorneys they would have the Government and the minister hopping.
This is the tip of the iceberg and all during 2012 we going see public dissent. As we still have union wage talks and many other unresolved issues that has caught this administration napping.
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Comment LinkWho employ the teachers? Were the teachers ordered back to work? If not why not? How can you negotiate when teachers are off? I submit the teachers who are close to retirement be gone and the others be transferred or they can all open a school with Mrs Redman as principal.I predict by Friday it will be settled, we celebrate Errol Barrow’s day and the Alexandra School is back continuing the business of teaching on Monday.
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Comment LinkI was hoping that all parties wanted the same thing and that was to bring a speedy resolution to this matter.
However, that seems not to be the case as “Boss Lady Redman” decided not to attend, but sent one of her servants to do her dirty work instead.
This woman does not have the best interest of the Alexandra School students and teachers at heart.
Her aim is to make a name for herself by appearing in all the newspapers and on television.
I SAY SO!
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Comment LinkYes time will (could) be made up but that mean asking the students to squeeze all the work in their brain with a shorter time frame…...unfair to the students again.
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Comment LinkI believe the parents in Barbados are too soft, polite and not loud enough. They have to get more RADICAL for something to happen quickly. For my child, I WILL DO ANYTHING, especially knowing that his/her future is at stake. Mary Redman seems to have more gusto than any of them because she blatantly refused to meet with appointed officials, according to reports. She is taking a stance like Machiavelli “It is better to be feared than loved.” So, the parents need to TURN UP THE HEAT AND THROW DOWN THE GAUNTLET, for the sake of their children.
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Comment LinkWhy did the PTA turn up at the Ministry of Education? What good can come about by a mob of angry parents protesting outside the ministry?
The President of the PTA is using the current situation to gain popularity and fame and in so do is creating a separate set of problems. Let those in authority resolve the issue Mr Benskin and stop showing your personal opinion which is in favour of Broomes. You are leading people down a blind path and retracting your statements only serve to make you look stupid.
And sue the Ministry of Education? How is this in the best interest of the children who no doubt will be grown and left school long before such a suit could be see the light?
If you are so concerned about the children organize a volunteer group of parents to help with the day to day management of the said children. If children are teaching children well then maybe parents could also teach them too.
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