Madame Estate: --- There are 1001(one thousand and one ) problems at the Public Schools on St. Maarten that has to be resolved said President of the Windward Island Teachers Union (WITU) Claire Elshot at a press conference yesterday at the WITU head office.Elshot said that teachers that are working at public schools have to face increase frustration, intimidation, victimization as well as discrimination from the school board for public education. Elshot said the board has created over 1001(one thousand and one) man made problems in their day to day managing of public education.
The WITU president said she felt it was of uttermost importance that the public especially parents of school aged children become involved as well as the union to find solutions to these problems which she said is plaguing the system.
The latest concern for the union Elshot said only a few days ago the board of public education called in a number of teachers who came from Suriname and informed them that they would now need to seek employment at other school boards for the New Year since the public schools on St. Maarten is changing its language of instruction to English for all six grades.
Elshot said these teachers who came in from Suriname have all become naturalized citizens they are now left in the cold without a job. She also said she has no confidence in the department of education based on past experience. Elshot said last year and local teacher requested a transfer and before she knew it she was dismissed. A matter she said was taken to court and the department promised to make an out of court settlement which yet to be finalised.
Elshot said the union has been sending letters to the department as well as to the executive council but they never received any response. She said right now there is a "ticking time bomb in public education which she said is causing severe stress on her members.
In giving specifics on some of the issues affecting teachers in the public schools Elshot said only now the teachers are being notified that they need to apply at different school boards to seek employment for school year 2009-2010. Elshot said she attended one of the meetings with one her of her members and the information that was given to the civil servant was shocking.
She said the head of the department Mrs. Oldsdine Bryson said that while the WITU might not have been aware the teachers should have seen the changes coming to them. Elshot said with the change from Dutch to English the system has depleted some of positions that were once available. Elshot said when the WITU tried to obtain information from the department they were not forthcoming.
She said so far they still do not know how many teachers would be affected with the change and neither do they know what types of vacancies that would be available to the teachers, especially those hailing from Suriname. She said can you imagine the board wants the teachers move from being a civil servant to now sign a contract with a school board.
Elshot said she would like to know if students that are attending the public schools can no longer attend the Milton Peters in the HAVO and VVO Stream. The unionist said something like this is unheard of and parents need to take note now. Elshot said this reminds of her of what had happened in Saba when they went over to English and now they are struggling to reverse the system. Elshot wants to know if the island government has another Secondary School in place to take on all students. She said the Catholic School board just recently opened their school to accommodate their children but the question is what would happen to students from the other public schools.
The WITU president said the problems they are now facing was created by the outgoing government since they permit the directress of public education to take this course.
Elshot said when it comes to the worker's rights there is a grave infringement that no one in the department can handle. She said even Quincy Harrigan is not able to find solutions to the problems that now exist. She said there are constant meetings that create more delay.
Elshot said there are number of teachers that have issues that are pending and to date these issues cannot be resolved. She said right now teachers are paying their dues for the pension fund and to date they are not being able to register into that fund. Elshot said she has a number of teachers who have taught on St. Maarten for years and to date they are still not inscribed in the pension fund. Elshot said the APNA already received the necessary information and the only detail that is missing is the signature of the employer.
She said the law governing the pension fund clearly states that teachers have a right to this fund. She called the situation ridiculous since the law is clear and the premiums are being taken.
Elshot said the Union has had enough and they are already in the mood to take action. She said she believed that the only reason the executive council is allowing the public education to be privatized to get away from their responsibilities.
Elshot said right now the time bomb is now ticking since her teachers are being highly affected. She said unless all the issues are being resolved then the union would have to do what they do best since no one in education is listening to their grievances.