Arrangements made as teachers ‘rest and reflect’ again

The third week of the new school term and schools implemented adjustments as teachers were to work half day today Thursday, September 22.

On the first day of the school term, September 5, teachers took time to ‘rest and reflect’ as directed by their union the Trinidad & Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA). Today, they were to report for duty in the afternoon.

At Presentation College, San Fernando, 14 of 48 teachers were present and 226 of 798 students. Classes were grouped by year, into one or two classes and teaching continued with staff present while at Presentation College, Chaguanas, 13 of 36 teachers were present and 410 of 688 students. Classes were merged and the library assistant, on-the-job trainee, and lab attendant chipped in.

St Benedict’s College, La Romaine, had 99 of 606 students and 18 out of 52 teachers. The students were being supervised in the audio-visual room.

St Anthony’s College, Diego Martin had 214 out of 572 students and 11 of 39 teachers. Classes were consolidated and the teachers present handled supervision and teaching in their respective subject areas. There were 40 students and 16 teachers in attendance at St Francis College, Belmont.

TTUTA’s directive to membership is in response to the “disrespect” shown by the Chief Personnel Officer Dr Daryl Dindial whose four per cent salary increase to all public sector workers has been rejected. TTUTA has been calling on the CPO to negotiate following the offer he tabled.

The General Council, the decision-making arm of the union, met September 12 and decided on the half-day rest and reflection based on the CPO’s silence to the union’s letter dated September 2.