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Ministry 'open about its challenges engaging teachers'

As of Friday, January 17, 2020

By SYANN THOMPSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

sthompson@tribunemedia.net

THE Ministry of Education has been open about its challenges engaging teachers for the public school system, according to acting Director of Education Marcellus Taylor.

His comments came after Bahamas Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson complained about the long-standing issue.

“In the past, we have indicated to the public that we were having challenges engaging teachers," Mr Taylor said. "Firstly, we have a challenge with persons entering the profession, but also because we have some administrative and other challenges."

Cabinet approved 218 new teacher hires for the 2019-2020 school year and out of that number, Mr Taylor said, 149 were deployed and fewer than 70 have not been hired so far. Mrs Wilson had claimed that about 100 teachers had not yet been hired.

He said the reasons include security vetting, teachers deferring or taking jobs elsewhere.

He said out of some 70 teachers, 21 are still being vetted, 23 have not completed their applications and 16 applications have been moved onto the Public Service Commission for recommendations to be hired.

For those still in the process of being hired, security vetting is critical, according to Mr Taylor, who said this process is done by the police. “One of the issues we have mentioned in the past is security vetting. That is done by an agency outside of us. Without the security vetting we do not want to engage people to work in schools because that security vetting was put in place to prevent persons of unscrupulous backgrounds being among students in a school setting,” Mr Taylor said.

He also said it is difficult getting teachers to relocate to the Family Islands for various reasons – cost of living and a lack of urban development —despite incentives provided by the government.

Comments

stillwaters 4 years, 3 months ago

And when teachers are hired, it takes three to four months before they receive a first paycheck. Tell the whole story.

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Well_mudda_take_sic 4 years, 3 months ago

There are less than three dozen truly qualified Bahamian teachers in our public education system.

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OMG 4 years, 3 months ago

How come you can hire Cuban teachers so quickly.

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birdiestrachan 4 years, 3 months ago

What does the former Deacon have to say about this. The motor mouth Masterful liar.

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sheeprunner12 4 years, 3 months ago

This is the reality of teaching in the public school system today:

  1. The UB School of Education has a mostly average GPA HS students who apply to it, so its a mess from Day One to train them. …….. 2. There are limited course selections at UB to cover ALL of the high school BGCSE subjects, an little effort to offer incentives ….... 3. The MOE wants ALL teachers to have a Bachelor's degree to teach, but will hire "craft instructors" to take care of many political appointees ........ 5. The average starting salary is $25,000 when most untrained blue collar workers can make $15- $20 per hour ....... 6. There is NO chance of a teacher getting promoted before 10 years in the classroom (and administrative positions are mostly handpicked these days) ........... 7. The classroom teaching environment is very much like a prison these days (both the curriculum and the admin/parents/students behavior ........ 8. Teachers struggle to live on their salary in Nassau (like Florida) and most urban Bahamian teachers think that most of the Out Islands are too backward and slow. ..... 9. Foreign teachers are finding that they can make twice our proposed salary and either don't come here or leave as soon as they get a better deal in North America or Middle East or Asia ............ 10. HQ "experts" are so far removed from the reality of what teachers experience daily, that their heads are up their asses once they leave the classroom/admin.
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