The Tribune

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

Tribune Staff Reporter

lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson has urged the newly appointed Education Minister Chester Cooper to tackle chronic teacher shortages, school infrastructure problems and communication failures within the Ministry of Education, warning that many of the issues have persisted despite decades of recommendations from educators.

Speaking on Morning Blend on Guardian Radio, Mrs Wilson revealed that some newly qualified teachers who should have been placed in classrooms at the beginning of the academic year were only assigned to schools weeks before the school year ended, highlighting what she described as longstanding inefficiencies in the ministry's recruitment process.

Her comments come as teachers continue to raise concerns over staffing shortages, deteriorating school facilities and unresolved industrial matters.

Ms Wilson, who recently met with the education minister and his team, described the discussions as productive and covered a wide range of issues affecting education, including teacher shortages, recruitment, curriculum matters, the status of Cuban teachers, school repairs, new school construction and communication within the ministry.

She said she gave the minister a 20-page submission outlining the strengths and weaknesses of the current education system and offered recommendations for improvement.

She painted a troubling picture of staffing shortages throughout the public school system, which serves students across 164 schools on 24 islands and cays.

She said although substitute teachers were intended to provide temporary coverage when teachers were absent or on extended leave, many retired teachers now serve as supply teachers on a full-time basis because vacancies remain unfilled.

A major concern, she said, is the length of time it takes to appoint newly qualified teachers after graduation.

She said many students at the University of The Bahamas receive government grants or scholarships and should already be known to the ministry before completing their studies. She said instead, graduates often wait months for appointment letters while officials gather transcripts, police records and other documentation.

"So, let's say, in total, it's 100 of them," she said. "They'll be invited to an orientation in August, and when the orientation ceremony ends, you may have 20 or 30 of them that have appointment letters."

She said many others remain in limbo while paperwork is processed.

"Oh, we waiting for the public service. Oh, we waiting for the police to vet them. Oh we waiting for her to bring a diploma. Oh, we waiting for her transcript, so that alone is a turn off."

She said those delays discourage young teachers who are eager to enter classrooms after completing four years of study.