School Issues Update

Classes have resumed at Good Shepherd Primary as teachers returned to school after an apparent sickout yesterday.

Eighteen teachers had reported ill forcing the school to close.

This follows last Friday’s incident where reports of a male teacher threatening his co-workers online led to the Barbados Police Service being called and classes suspended.

Communications Consultant with the Ministry of Education, Gaynelle Marshall tells Starcom Network News a meeting has been held with the teachers and their union and classes resumed as normal.

Communications Consultant with the Ministry of Education, Gaynelle Marshall.

President of the Barbados Union of Teachers Rudy Lovell says teachers are a lot more comfortable following the discussions with the Ministry.

Meantime, testing at the Lester Vaughn Secondary School revealed a sewage system is the source of some of the environmental issues there.

The school has been affected by longstanding environmental problems and last week it was closed after more than 30 teachers reported feeling ill.

Yesterday the school was closed at noon with classes continuing remotely for the rest of the week while remedial action is taken to address the issues.

Mr. Lovell believes the test results validate the teachers’ concerns.

President of the Barbados Union of Teachers, Rudy Lovell

Teachers at St. Stephens Nursery School are calling for environmental testing to be done after suspected mould was discovered in the school hall.

First Vice President and Chair of the Occupational Safety and Health committee for the Barbados Union of Teachers, Julian Pierre says industrial cleaning was done over the weekend.

However, the staff is concerned that there was no prior testing to determine the environmental challenges and want tests carried out to ensure the environment is safe.

Mr. Pierre indicated that teachers are not comfortable with classes continuing especially in the school hall and the union awaits an update from the Ministry of Education.