The two leading teachers’ unions in Barbados have sided with Government and agreed that school should be delayed by one week, a re-opening promised for next Tuesday to give the authorities time to clear volcanic ash from the plants.
Both the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) and the Barbados Secondary Teachers Union (BSTU) feel Government had no choice but to postpone the new school term because of the additional risks posed by the ash being dumped by the La Soufriere volcano over the last five days.
With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing the abandonment of face-to-face classes since last year, some students were initially set to return to school from next week.
However, since Saturday morning the country has been battling with significant ash plumes caused by the eruption of the volcano in St Vincent.
During a press conference this morning, Minister of Education, Technological and Vocational Training Santia Bradshaw disclosed that the new term would now start on April 26 instead of April 19.
President of the BUT Pedro Shepherd told Barbados TODAY the situation had reached a stage where the ministry had no other option but to delay a return to school.
“The BUT attended the meeting with the minister and other unions yesterday and the minister made the recommendations to the unions and the principals’ association. I think the NUPW was present as well and we all agreed.
“I don’t think this is a situation that any of us could have objections to that recommendation so we agreed to postpone the opening for one week and to wait basically and see how the volcanic ash behaves for the next week, few days and see if there needs to be an extension or if we are able to open on April 26,” Shepherd said.
The BUT president said while he was aware that the cleanup of some schools had not started, he was optimistic the work would be completed in time.
Meanwhile, in an interview with Barbados TODAY, BSTU president Mary Redman said the ministry’s hands were tied in the matter.
She said with the amount of ash and dust on the island it would have been unthinkable for students to return to school next Tuesday.
“Of course there was really no alternative because the level of ash that has enveloped the country is not one that anybody could have contemplated re-opening schools with our ongoing context,” Redman said.
“The minister has made it clear that that week is more or less a positional timeframe because everything depends entirely on the extent to which there is continued activity with the volcano because you really can’t have anyone in schools in the conditions that presently exist. So everything is really provisional depending on what happens within the next few days with the volcano.” (randybennett@barbadostoday.bb)
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