BNTU has no say, claims Faber!

The Teaching Services Commission has been the subject of much controversy, but as we go to press tonight it seems that any opposition to the proposed amendment was of no consequence. Despite the BNTU calling on Minister of Education Patrick Faber to delay the bill until more consultation has been done, Faber went ahead anyway and presented the bill to his colleagues in Cabinet, where it was approved.

According to Faber, it doesn’t really matter if the BNTU opposed the bill, because that body really has no say – “Whether or not we have a Teaching Services Commission is not up to the union to decide. The people of this country elected a government and if the Ministry of Education which is the body that is set policy decides that we are going to have a Teaching Services Commission then that is really what it is.”

Last month teachers rose up en masse against their union leadership after a release was issued on the official BNTU letterhead claiming support for the proposed commission. At that point there had been no consultation with teachers. Soon thereafter consultations ensued and the consensus of opinion seems to be that teachers reject the Commission in its proposed form. The Orange Walk and Corozal branches of the BNTU have been the most vocal, rejecting the Commission outright and calling on the Minister to allow them more input in the proposed bill.

According to Faber, he has had enough of the back and forth and so decided to just push the Commission through. As we go to press tonight, there is word that the northern branches of the BNTU are holding special meetings to discuss their next move. Having been approved by Cabinet, the bill now moves to the House of Representatives where it will be tabled.

| | | | | |