Chairperson of the SKNLP and Parliamentary representative for constituency #2, the Honorable Marcella Liburd is taking the team Unity Government Minister of Education, the Honorable Shawn K Richards to task for incompetence and poor governance in his handling of educational programs and activities.
Liburd said Richards apologized at the inconvenience to students and officials and the lack of consultation over changing the dates of school Easter vacation.
Liburd said Richards unilaterally changed school vacation dates without consultation with teachers or their union, and that this action had caused inconvenience of teachers.
Liburd said Richards had also apologized over the NIOSH report and the appointment of Carnival Chair Noah Mills, and the stopping of the REACH program.
Meanwhile in a press release dated 23rd February, the St. Kitts Teachers Union is outraged that the Ministry did not consult them or revert back to the original Easter vacation dates.
“The St Kitts Teachers’ Union is greatly dissatisfied and disappointed with the manner in which the Ministry of Education has changed the dates for the current term. The leadership of both the St Kitts Teachers’ Union and the Nevis Teachers’ Union met with the Minister of Education, his Permanent Secretary and the Chief Education Officer on Monday 23rd February, 2016 to seek to resolve this matter. Regrettably, no resolution was reached as the Unions became outraged with comments that Ministry officials used to define the relationship between the Unions and the Ministry. The Ministry officials clearly stated that any consultation with the Unions is a mere courtesy and the Ministry does not have to consult the Unions on any matter. This defining statement has caused an erosion of trust and seriously breached the relationship between the Unions and the Ministry. The St Kitts Teachers’ Union in a meeting of General Council on Tuesday 23rd February, 2016 has noted this unfortunate position of the Ministry of Education on the Union’s right to have consultation. The lack of consultation is clearly seen in this particular matter and the premature and unfortunate suspension and closure of the laptop and REACH programmes. Such suspension without consultation is very unfortunate. These programmes were important to the development of our students and provided well needed support for their education. The SKTU stand strong against the unilateral action of the Ministry of Education and despite the Ministry’s clearly defined position on consultation with the Unions, the SKTU will continue to “Agitate, Educate, and Liberate”. The SKTU calls on the Ministry of Education to kindly revert to the former dates issued for our school terms and to embrace a more consultative path in education.”