Union wants more
attention for teachers
PHILIPSBURG--With education one of the main issues of debate during the just-ended election campaign, Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) President Claire Elshot is calling on the newly-elected government to stick to the promises it made to the electorate regarding education.
The union said both government and members of the opposition should stick to their promises in their respective capacities at the Island and Central levels of government.
Some of the issues to which she would like special attention paid are the completion of the new salary scale for teachers and the shortage of teachers. She would also like to see additional benefits secured for teachers, such as in the areas of housing.
She said the cost of living adjustment, which is currently paid to teachers in a lump sum, should be incorporated in their salaries.
“I would also like to see all the issues that were brought forward during the election about children and their rights to education addressed,” she said.
“Everyone hammered away about education during the campaign and spoke about the special focus on children and the youths. Now it’s time to keep those promises. It shouldn’t be mentioned in a manifesto and nothing done until next election time.
“If we are going to progress to country status then we need to also put more focus on secondary vocational education, since this would enhance the economic sectors of the community,” Elshot said.
She said too that the island should start taking measures to ensure that students sent abroad to pursue tertiary studies returned to serve the island. She said the island was losing too many of its human resources when students who went abroad to study never returned.
“I am not a politician, but I look forward to continuing the dialogue with government,” she said.
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