To the BSTU teachers, have a heart…
Submitted by Observing
Mary Redman, BSTU President
The recent SBA saga has taken centre stage in the educational conversation of Barbados. One might have missed the Minister’s pronouncement of a number of new codes including mobile technology, or the launch of the new school for troubled teens or even the good news coming out of BSSAC, NAPSAC and some schools’ Speech Days.
We’ve heard and seen the BSTU (“supported by the BUT”…whatever that means) make an impassioned plea for their members to not mark SBAs in support of their demand for payments.
From the outset let’s agree on a few things:
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It’s the Union’s right to request payment, whether they get it or not.
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It’s the Union’s right to take action to “force” discussion or resolution on the matter.
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It’s the Union’s right to represent teachers who believe their their workload has become too burdensome, whether it is or not
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It’s a Ministry’s responsibility to speak to its employees and/or their representatives proactively and on request
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It’s a travesty when issues like this drag on for so long to the detriment of everyone.
Now, all of that aside, let’s get to the critical point here.
FACT: The stance taken by the BSTU, contrary to their statements in the media, places hundreds of students at risk of failure in hundreds of examinations unless Principals take corrective measures.
Let’s observe why…
a) The SBA is a school based assessment. Started, completed, assessed and submitted by the school.
b) The SBA is intended to form part of the teaching of the subject and to lead to the fulfilment of some objectives in the syllabus. It is not intended to be separate and distinct.
c) The SBA is a compulsory part of any syllabus where it is required. The same syllabus that teachers are duty bound to teach in its entirety where practicable.
d) By commencing and guiding the SBA in the first place, teachers are now duty bound to complete the process (i.e. mark/assess).
e) CXC will not conduct a process for Barbados that varies from other countries. (i.e. mark SBAs submitted without marks)
f) Marking an SBA is not the same as moderating an already marked SBA. (this point seems lost on the BSTU)
g) The guidelines quoted by BSTU (i.e. submission is sufficient…marks not needed) also state that scores not submitted by the institution or school on behalf of the candidate will lead to an ungraded.
h) Schools have a contractual obligation to its students and their parents to submit marked SBAs to the Local Registrar until existing guidelines or procedures have been changed
i) It is too late now to galvanise similar regional action on the matter. Barbados stands alone.
By the way…
If the teachers chose to mark, but then refused to compile, transfer or enter them into CSEC’s online system, they would be on solid ground If teachers do not want to mark the SBA without payment, then they should also refuse to start teaching any SBA class.
If teachers had directly indicated to their individual students, their individual parents and their individual schools at the start of the SBA process that this would be the end result, then they “may” have been forgiven.
The intransigent stance taken by the BSTU (in its present form) is nothing short of educational terrorism and could lead to the genocide of many Grade Ones and Twos unless Principals step in and fill the breach.
The words of the NCPTA President should be heeded. Stand down (for now), then reload your weapons before the start of the next school year. History will not be kind otherwise.
Barbados Underground 
The recently introduced CCSLC program has a community service component. Students are required to perform 30 hours of community service. This work must be validated by some authority. The students are required to keep a journal along with video or photographic evidence attesting to the work done. Now this sounds great. Students giving back, learning about social responsibility etc etc. However who will be supervising the students? When and where will this work be done etc etc? The answer to the first question is easy…teachers. Wait for the complaints to come in the future when teachers are told it is part of their duty to clean up beaches, visit homes for the aged, feed vagrants etc without any increase in salary.
Also this community service component is ONLY DONE IN BARBADOS. The other territories learn a foreign language instead. The Government of Barbados is of the view that the learning of French or Spanish is beyond the ability of the overwhelming majority of Barbadian children.
The other subjects of the CCSLC (i.e. English language, Maths, Integrated Science and Social Studies) each have a large number of SBAs which will account for 40% of the final mark.
I hope for the teachers sake that the Union does not play “catch up” with CCSLC.
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@Ping Pong
Isn’t the logic about guiding children to flesh out their bios i.e.to present themselves as well rounded?
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David
the road to hell is paved with good intentions. I don’t have a problem with requiring students to perform community service. It is the administration (or lack of administration) of the program that seems problematic. It appears that the burden of coming up with community service activities, supervising the students and guiding the students in preparing the documentation that attests to the students’ participation will fall to teachers with no commensurate increase in pay or decrease in other teaching duties. Please note that about 30% of the CCSLC students will be 12 – 14 years old. If like the other SBA duties (e.g data entry etc), teachers are happy to comply then who am we to complain? Just don’t come crying some time after about it “being unreasonable to expect teachers to do the work without pay”.
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@Bushie and others
Teachers do (should) not have to pay for mistakes made at time of data entry. There are (should be) checks and balances that hold the students and their parents responsible. The students, parents or worse case the school pays for the error..
If any teacher paid out of their own pocket for mistakes made at the data entry level then they were sadly misled and should get back every cent. Don’t let ac and Mary Redman mislead the house of BU.
@David
“Of course the hard position by the MOE…”
But what else could they have done given the rabid and misguided stance by the BSTU? Mary drew the line in the sand before anyone had a chance to get in the sandbox and then kicked dust in the eyes of the students who stand to be hurt most.
@Ping Pong
“I hope for the teachers sake that the Union does not play “catch up” with CCSLC.
lol. Too late! The first wave of CCSLC exams are right around the corner. Now one would think that the BSTU would have tackled this first give the peculiarities of the “Barbadian model” of CCSLC but noooooooo. They’re fighting a currently unwinnable battle in a drawn out war.
Just observing
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@ Ping Pong April 7, 2015 at 12:39 PM
“I don’t have a problem with requiring students to perform community service. It is the administration (or lack of administration) of the program that seems problematic. It appears that the burden of coming up with community service activities, supervising the students and guiding the students in preparing the documentation that attests to the students’ participation will fall to teachers with no commensurate increase in pay or decrease in other teaching duties. Please note that about 30% of the CCSLC students will be 12 – 14 years old.”
Why burden students already going through a period (puberty) of self and sexual identification with this crap of community service?
Would the children of the make-believe middle class and economically well-off classless group of spiritual deadbeats be asked to engage in community service in the drug-infested social underbelly of Barbados?
Why are teachers being forced to play god in being held totally responsible for the shaping of the social values of the nation’s young and vulnerable?
Why not make participation in a National Service programme compulsory for all school leavers before entering the world of work or further study or training?
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@Ping Pong
Yours are reasonable concerns.
@Observing
It doesn’t matter the line drawn in the sand by the BSTU, the MOE is responsible for managing and demonstrating leadership.
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@Miller
Why not make participation in a National Service programme compulsory for all school leavers before entering the world of work or further study or training?
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
But not the national service which Ronald Jones and Durant are proposing.
The young males serving, and the young women producing babies.
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push back what ,what is there to push back how unreasonable and selfish can some persons be,,good lord the teachers have been ignored for more than nine years and now at the eleventh hour they should have to give in to unreasonable suggestions, the faster this issue is resolved the better for all parties involved,,come next year the same story would reignite,my suggestion stay firm and if the children’s well being is of importance as some suggested those in control of making resolve occur would make haste sooner rather than later and have this issue laid to rest in a proper and justifiable manner making way and showing proof that the children’s best interest is at heart, the teachers have already prove many times over that they have the childrens best interest at heart by performing duties assigned to them for free ….now it is up to those who have used the children’s “interest as shields to put their money where they mouth is and find a quick solution, Let the teachers be, they have a right to fight a WRONG.
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@ ac April 7, 2015 at 5:10 PM
How come you are so fervently supportive of the teachers’ plight.
Don’t you realize the teachers are also fighting against Ronald Jones’s failure to address the matter?
We wonder what you would have to say should the matter be referred to Fumble as was the case of the Ax affair?
That those wicked evil selfish heartless teachers need their heads cracked open and some shots fired at their backs to let them know who are the real bosses in your banana republic?
Ronal Jones can ask for Killer Gittens to head his hit squad.
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wait miller u ain’t see nothing yet my next shout out on this issue would be on face book if this problem is not quickly resolved, u tek this for joke,
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@ observing ,,u are very observant at diluting facts with woulda ! and shoulda! what Mary states is truth that can be backed up by facts, what u have brought to table is a big bowl of diluted misconceptions
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Any comments in response Mary Redman’s remarks at the BSTU annual meeting regarding a meeting held at the ministry of education with presidents of the PTAs? If true it is not surprising that we have these brutes running one of our largest and most game changing ministries.
JAs
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@david
Could you expand on the comments she made?
@ac
…
@miller et.al.
Does anyone have the authority to “pay” Barbadian teachers only??
@david again
One hand can’t clap. Would you negotiate with a real and present threat to your children hanging over your head? Rigid impossible ultimatums have no place in modern day industrial relations. Somebody should tell Frost that.
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@Observing
Words to the effect the ministry assured attendees the BSTU is still smarting about the push back it received from the AX issue and the ministry will deal with the BSTU instigators ‘proper’ this time around.
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@Observing
Negotiating away conflict will always be part of managing industrial relations. Do not forget the BSTU has tabled this issue a couple times dating to 2006. Mary Redman advised today the Minister of Education promised to confer with principals of schools about several initiatives in the pipeline and at no time included the BSTU (an important stakeholder)in the setup.
A lack of leadership!
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@ Observing April 7, 2015 at 7:02 PM
“Does anyone have the authority to “pay” Barbadian teachers only??”
Yes! The MoE. Why not impose a user-type fee on the parents like the UWI tuition fee or the QEH user fee? Those who can pay will have to pay (the same way they send their children to paid private lessons) and those who can’t pay will be given a small bursary. LOL!!
What will happen if the teachers ‘down tools’ as far as marking the SBA’s is concerned but with effect from the next school year?
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@ David April 7, 2015 at 7:13 PM
“Mary Redman advised today the Minister of Education promises to confer with principals of schools about several initiatives in the pipeline and at no time includes the BSTU (an important stakeholder)in the setup.”
It is clear that Minister Jones along with his BUT top dog sidekicks in the MoE) intends to destroy the BSTU.
If all the primary and secondary schools are the same why are there two separate unions for teachers? Why not merge scarce resources and become one NUT (National Union of Teachers for the still class conscious little Barbados?
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@miller
Lol. Good one. Reality says otherwise though so BSTU and CUT will have to chill. If in 2015-2016 teachers state from the outset that “dem ain’t marking” then BAPPSS will rotate / shift staff to those who will. Life goes on. Empty ultimatums rarely reap results.
@david
Has BSTU / BUT recently presented themselves as mature serious stakeholders? Have they presented proposals or solutions rather than problems lately? Have they used their positioning and clout to ensure they have a say in things that matter?
The leadership argument goes both ways and sadly both teachers’ unions have piss poor leadership as we speak.
Observing
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Miller
They are already NUTs.
>
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We have a group of misfits and spiteful biiitches in the Ministry of Education.
We have the worst minister of Education EVER who cannot speak the queen’s English nor pronounce simple words. He speaks like a bully and in every presentation, he comes over as a bully and a thug.
The minister and his hacks have run Laurie King out of the ministry, he could not take them anymore. Since this moron took over the ministry of Education, most of the good people have left. In that ministry now, all the people in leadership positions with the exception of the best person who should have been CEO, Joy Adamson, have only taught in primary schools, Jones included…………and we know that he was hardly at Christ Church Boys when he was supposed to be there.
How could you have all primary school people who have never known what it is to manage teenagers, help them with their SBA’s or even corrected one……lambaste teachers and want to tell them what they should do. Is it true that marking SBA’s is in the teachers’ job description? Whuh………………the moron for a minster does not earn his pay, he and Mop Head Karen Best could try marking them. She is the real boss in that ministry……..she is a deceitful SOB.
Look, I can see things from the teachers’ side but seeing it is so late, I think that for this year, they should mark the SBA’s for the children’s sake. CXC will know that from next year, look for people to mark their SBA’s.
I know it would be hard for the BSTU to tell its members to mark the SBA’s, they will see it as a loss and the morons in the ministry will see it as a victory and dub it in their faces. We know the dems are all about propaganda. But think about the children who want to get into universities.
If we do not get the rid of the dems, this country is doomed for a long time.
Wait, what did the ministry finally do to Charles Morris?
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@ Observing April 7, 2015 at 7:33 PM
“If in 2015-2016 teachers state from the outset that “dem ain’t marking” then BAPPSS will rotate / shift staff to those who will.”
Are you suggesting there is a serious professional divide “between” secondary school teachers? Those who are under the ass-licking control of the BAPPSS and those under the authoritarian influence of Mary Redman and her lieutenants.
Sounds like the MoE would be instructing the BAPPSS to use the ass-licking scabs with promises of future promotion.
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@Observing
If the BSTU or BUT are not to be taken seriously what does it say about the membership? If the union intelligence is poor it is all the more reason for the MOE to demonstrate leadership. Has anyone on BU ever attended an interview at the MOE to contend for a senior teacher position?
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@ Prodigal Son April 7, 2015 at 7:48 PM
“..If we do not get the rid of the dems, this country is doomed for a long time.”
So what so you think the “D” in the current (note current) DLP stands for?
Democratic? No. Decent? No. Dangerous? Yes. Deadly? Yes, just ask the patients at the QEH. Destructive? Yes. Just look around Barbados at its once envied but now ‘laugh at’ decomposing institutions and infrastructure.
Yes indeed Barbados is surely doomed under the current lot of dangerous lying political pimps and prostitutes running the show just to secure their pensions that would not worth what Paddy shot at when the IMF is finished exacting and extracting its pound of devaluation flesh, either internally or externally.
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@miller
BUT vs. BSTU
MOE vs. BSTU/BUT
Secondary vs. Primary
Appointed vs. Temporaries
Principals vs. Teachers
Academics vs. TVETs
Newer secondary vs. Older
Jones vs. Redman
What divide ya talking bout?
@david
It says more about us as a country than it does about a union’s membership. Don’t panic though, the Outliers are arising slowly but surely.
Btw, I sent in an application for Minister and used you and Bushie as references. Surprisingly I haven’t gotten a call for an interview yet. Tsk tsk.
Observing
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@Observing
We know that minister Ronald Jones is an avid follower of BU and we invite him to respond to some of the issues raised. Step out of the box and confront the BU intelligentsia.
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@ Observing April 7, 2015 at 8:31 PM
At least your ‘professional’ mate and comrade in conflict has gone off the radar. LOL!!
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Can anyone provide “in back and white” that regulation/rule/guideline which EXPLICITLY states that CXC ultimately is responsible for marking the SBAs?
The BSTU asserts that once CXC has possession of the SBAs then it is CXC’s responsibility to effect the marking of the SBAs. The Ministry of Education disputes this view.
However I believe parents would want independent confirmation of the situation so that in the event that teachers refuse to mark then CXC could be made to mark the SBAs on application to the Courts of law.
The President of the NCPTA should be looking after the interests of parents i.e the children instead of playing referee between the Union and the Government. I also believe that parents should be informed EARLY (before 31st July) if their children’s SBA has not been submitted so as to give them a fighting chance to do something.
A parent may with the permission of the Principal, pay a teacher to mark the SBA. However one looks at it, parents will have to pay, either privately or through higher taxes.
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@Ping Pong
Have a look at the CXC SBA Manual:
Click to access CAPE2014SBAManualForPrincipals.pdf
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“We know that minister Ronald Jones is an avid follower of BU and we invite him to respond to some of the issues raised”.
………………………….
He does, David?
Jones should be the last to lecture any union on its tactics.
He was one of the most militant BUT presidents ever. But of course then he was playing the politics of the deceitful lying party. He was assigned to the now renamed Milton Lynch Boys school and I would like you to invite him to tell BU how often he was in his assigned classroom to teach “the people’s children”.
Was he concerned back then about their education or however he pronounces the word?
Hypocrite!
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Thanks David for the link to the SBA manual.
Unfortunately while the manual states that :
8.2.
Retention of Assignments
All assignments, projects and assessment sheets are part of the examination records and will be considered the property of the Council. The Council may request the SCHOOL BASED ASSESSMENT assignments of other candidates for moderation.
I have not been able to confirm BSTU’s position that marking of the SBA is the primary responsibility of CXC. There is repeated mention of the possibility of an ungraded status being given where marks are not submitted by the school in the prescribed manner.
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I suppose that since CXC moderates the marks of the SBA then I may take as implicit that CXC can provide the first marking for any and all SBAs. As the moderation process is to ensure that teachers’ assessments conform to CXC guidelines and standards then if CXC marks an SBA that mark will surely be in accordance with CXC’s standards!
Anyway I am only practicing bush law. What do real attorney’s think?
Once parents can be reasonably satisfied that CXC can be compelled to mark those SBAs which teachers refuse to mark then the BSTU’s position will be strengthened. However a contrary opinion may have the opposite effect.
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@ping pong
The BSTU’s assertion is WRONG.
An SBA without a mark from the teacher (or school) will lead to the student receiving an ungraded. Simple.
Every parent should sit up and take note and sound your voices if needed.
Any teacher who does this to a student at this stage after 2 years of work in some cases must have a conversation with their their conscience.
Any Union leader who attempts to mislead (purposely or through utter ignorance) an entire country needs a serious reality check.
I suspect the worse is yet to come.
Observing.
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@Observing
Siding with your view to the extent if the BSTU knew it was drawing a line in the sand this year they should have stated their position before the current SBA process in an IR context i.e. listen to us or else! The two request sent to the MOE if we are correct was to request meetings or have discussions.
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I believe this is a key issue i.e. can CXC be compelled to mark the SBAs submitted without a mark? The NCPTA should get legal opinion on this sooner rather than later. There must be attorneys who are parents of CSEC or CAPE students. I have to admit that I cannot find anything explicit that supports the BSTU position but then I am a lowly Ping Pong.
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Observing
So CXC can’t be compelled to mark the SBAs and probably will not mark them. What then is the Ministry’s likely response? Even if teacher’s are made to face disciplinary action, students will still have received ungraded results. Parents (voters) will not be sympathetic to the Government. They will hold the DLP responsible. The teachers are voters too. The Government cannot take a hardline stance particularly if students are disadvantaged. The sensible thing to do is to arrange a meeting with the BSTU. Like the the Biblical case of the two women fighting over a child, who really cares about the children?! As Churchill said “Its better to jaw jaw than to war war.”
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Surely it can’t be any clearer? The manual says:
“During the course of study for the subject, the candidates are awarded marks by their teachers….”.
The work is set by the teachers. It is carried out (pretty much) during school time. How is it possible to conclude that the teachers are not required to set and mark this work as part of their day-to-day jobs?
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@Ping Pong
CXC will not break its own regulations. Especially for one country only.
The MOE’s response should and I assume will be to protect the children.
@St. George
It’s been clear as day from day one.
@David
21st century IR demands better of trade unions. The BSTU is like a blind bull that drank too much tequila in a china shop.
Have they proven that they represent the majority of teachers who mark SBAs and hence have the authority to be the representative on the issue?
Is Mary speaking for BSTU or CUT?
Has BSTU gone ahead of CUT on the matter? If so where’s the position of CUT or their subcommittee on the matter?
Which union if any has gained the right to negotiate directly with CXC?
Is this nonsensical ultimatum really the best way to get results?
Industrial relations require tact, foresight, long and short term action and strategy, diplomacy, sensible strength, positioning, timing and good internal/external public relations. Brute force just doesn’t cut it anymore. The BSTU has (once again) failed on ALL these counts simply for the sake of regaining local relevance and hopefully attaining regional clout. Our children stand poised to suffer as a result.
Trust me. The results here for them will be worse than Alexandra.
Just Observing
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Observing
How can the Ministry protect the children short of agreeing to pay the teachers which would mean that the BSTU wins? Is the Ministry going to hire “teachers” to mark the SBAs that are submitted unmarked and fire those teachers who abide with the BSTU’s instructions? What irony to have two former union leaders as union busters!
I agree with you when you wrote that “Industrial relations require tact, foresight, long and short term action and strategy, diplomacy, sensible strength, positioning, timing and good internal/external public relations. Brute force just doesn’t cut it anymore.” However isn’t this just as applicable to the Ministry of Education as it is to the BSTU.
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To those whose objective is to avoid the issue but have pursued a path of “thechildrens interest one must also include that the teachers interest is conducive to the childrens interest and the benefits which can be generated over the years by having teachers who have been collectively or individually working in partnership with these children.there are many interest that are tied to this issue which might be out of plain sight to the listening public which is attached and canot be easily dismissed. …such attachments include long hours spent in and outside the classroom which provides. protect a secure future for our nations children
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Out trade unions have lost their way and seem to believe that what worked during the Frank Walcott years exemplified through the Sir Trotman Grand old duke of york march is the sole purpose of and function for the union, be it that of teachers, workers or fisherfolk.
@ Ping Pong
While an aside to this issue speaks to the heart of what is going on in union matters and has been happening for many many years.
The SBAs being marked in a timely fashion lies at the crux of this matter and while technically correct, the representation by the BSTU at this time and in this matter seems, as has been explained to this ole man by much wiser men, be a trade union grandstanding at an inappropriate point.
You speak of “tact, foresight, diplomacy, strategy etc” but Ping Pong what it comes down to is relevance and individuals who are seeking a moment of fame using every opportunity to seem to be doing something.
What does a trade union do?
“A trade union is an organised group of workers. Its main goal is to protect and advance the interests of its members. A union often negotiates agreements with employers on pay and conditions. It may also provide legal and financial advice, sickness benefits and education facilities to its members.”
I will use the issue of RELEVANCE and THE MODUS of older, renown trade unions to highlight my point and ask you to forgive me for copying directly from the internet the following article regarding “Trade Unions in South Africa” to explain what I mean by RELEVANCE.
“Trade unions in South Africa have a history dating back to the 1880s. From the beginning unions could be viewed as a reflection of the racial disunity of the country, with the earliest unions being predominantly for white workers. Through the turbulent years of 1948-1991 trade unions played an important part in developing political and economic resistance, and eventually were one of the driving forces in realising the transition to an inclusive democratic government.”
The purpose of said African trade unions, speaks of a particular interest – advancing parity among the races. How they fought against this obvious inequity was through concerted efforts in the political and economic realms an adaptation of Jimmy Hoffa one might say.
Therein comes the key point.
There is no mystery to what Trade Unions do world over other than how they do what they do.
So in the case of the NUPW or the BwU whereas the power of the union was always visible during the DLP regime of 10,000 strong on Broad Street what we should ask ourselves is where is that union when LIME fires its members or Royal Shop makes a staff member redundant or Mrs. Ram has its union members working in a one door Campuz Trends waiting to happen at Kirpilanis on the Harbour road.
So i am getting to the BSTU and its modus of engagement that is endemic to all of our local unions – “Selective Contention (for it is to be noted that worker and member rights are only aggrieved IN PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES AND PARTICULAR EMPLOYERS!!)
Do you hear her/them talk about the “small fry things” Ping Pong??
Have you heard Mary Redman et al speak to the teacher deaths at the now abandoned Louis Lynch Secondary School?
Have you heard her speak out about perimeter security, weapons at the schools and security guards to protect her membership/teachers or, Lord Forbid, the students?
Does she speak out about the ridiculous attrition levels of parents attending PTA meetings?
Does she speak out about the state of the National Stadium and the safety of the slabs and their rotting support structures?
Has she spoken out about the antiquated curriculum of our institutions and the level of students leaving the school without any CXCs?
No sir, Mr. Ping Pong, if she were like the table tennis ball from which you seem to have gotten your name, she and her ilk would be all over the place, truly representing the interests of her constituency.
This is why I speak of Relevance and why it is evident that she and others of her kink in the fraternity that we call Unions have lost their way and are only interested in the membership fees and the perks that being president and general secretary afford them.
There is no comprehensive view of “what is a Union’s purpose” just a self serving attitude to get “one vainglorious moment in the sun”
Empty sepulchres that you and I continue to vote for whether at our church, our house of assembly, our union, the PTA it matters not….
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@Pieceuhderockyeahright
Ping Pong balls go back and forth. That is my “exemplar”, that is, to respectfully engage in a back and forth with others in the hope that understanding, consensus and ultimately truth will prevail.
As to your discourse on trade unionism and the many related issues to education and schools, that is a lot to contemplate. On the specific matter of the BSTU and Mary Redman, I really do not ascribe any dishonorable motives and I believe Ms Redman to be one of the more courageous persons in this country.
The BSTU may have taken a gamble. A gamble however forced by the intransigence if not the silliness of the Ministry of Education not to engage with the BSTU. That said like all gambles winning is not certain and I do fear that more may be lost than just payment for SBA work.
While I acknowledge the many associated issues that you have alluded to, I will constrain my attention to the specific matter at hand.
Here are 7 (actually 10) possible short term scenarios as I see them:
All teachers ignore the BSTU instructions, students receive grades.
Some teachers refuse to mark, provision made for SBAs to be marked, Ministry takes no further action, students receive grades.
Some teachers refuse to mark, Ministry and Principals make provision for SBAs to be marked, Ministry initiates disciplinary action, students receive grades.
Some teachers refuse to mark, no provision made for SBAs to be marked, Ministry initiates disciplinary action, students receive ungraded results.
Some teachers refuse to mark, no provision made for SBAs to be marked, Ministry makes no response other than express disappointment, students receive ungraded results.
Ministry offers to meet with BSTU, offer rejected, teachers refuse to mark, so either 2,3 4 or 5 occurs.
Ministry and BSTU agree to meet and discuss the matter, action suspended, students receive grades.
To each of these scenarios there are consequences in terms of industrial relations, standard of teaching, quality of schools, reputation of CXC certification, even the governance of the country. In my opinion, the worst scenario would be 4 (or 6.4 )and the best 7.To date, given the public statements and behaviour of the parties involved, scenarios 3 and 4 seem to be the most likely outcomes with dire consequences for all.
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@ping pong
“To each of these scenarios there are consequences in terms of industrial relations, standard of teaching, quality of schools, reputation of CXC certification, even the governance of the country.”
True true true.
BSTU’s rigid position of payment now being their only satisfactory outcome has boxed them in. The SBAS will be marked. What happens to those teachers who don’t is left to be seen.
@piece
Good point. The role of unions has to change given where we are as a country. Their leaders or future leaders need to assess the now and act towards the future. Unions can and should have a huge voice in where we go and how we develop as a country and a labour force. This public bickering and postulating does nothing to advance the cause of the people.
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no matter how many sceanrios are brought.the bottom line is compensation and unless an agreement is tabled which specifically guarantees that teachers would be paid before or after processing..thosepapers would be handed unmarked .however i will guess that the MOE would tabled a salavable agreement sufficient enoughnot to stalemate or cause more damage to the processbut find a solution that is beneficial to teacher and children
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@Observing
The issue missing from your comment is that the BSTU is seeking an audience with the MOE not with the CXC.
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Any comments on the letter to the editor submitted by Carlton Edwards?
@Observing > > The issue missing from your comment is that the BSTU is seeking an > audience with the MOE not with the CXC. > >
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@ ac April 8, 2015 at 12:42 PM
” no matter how many sceanrios are brought.the bottom line is compensation and unless an agreement is tabled which specifically guarantees that teachers would be paid before or after processing..thosepapers would be handed unmarked..”
So who do you think will be bearing the cost of compensation in the final analysis?
How do you think the CXC is funded? By providing orifice examinations to tourists?
Don’t you think the taxpayers or the parents of the students will have to foot the additional bill the parasitic organization called CXC will be passing on to the MoE?
Would you, ac & Co, be supportive of a user fee (as compensation to the teachers) to be imposed on the parents to get their children’s SBA’s ‘marked’ and submitted in a timely fashion?
After all, your dear loving party has set the precedent by breaking the holy DLP grail of free education to the masses. You have broken many a pledge to the electorate why not another in the name of expediency and hypocritically touted national survival just like the threat of devaluation if workers were not laid off.
Why don’t you, ac & Co, as is your wont call on the obstreperous teachers to join Team Barbados as you would wish every ‘darn’ Bajan to do? We are truly surprised at your stance on this matter. We are taken aback that you have not accused those rebellious teachers of being BLP operatives bent on undermining the goodly efforts of Minister Jones and his BUT sidekicks aka DLP johnnies all done for the sake of saving Barbados from its Seven years’ curse going ‘Eight as in September 1994’.
Since the apotheosis of EWB it seems he has left the curse of the Reversed Midas Touch on the poor DLP causing extensive collateral damage to poor Barbados.
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@david
Edwards also starts with a faulty premise. CXC pays for one off oral exams, setting up for a one off practical exam, marking one off exams, marking one off alternatives to the SBA and invigilation of one off exams. The SBA does not fall into any of the above categories. It serves a separate and special function in the overall awarded subject grade. Foreign languages DO NOT have SBAS. Practical exams in some subjects are separate and distinct from the SBAS in those same subjects.
Now, BSTU refused to mark pending Immediate payment by CXC. No where in their demands (this time) was an audience with the MOE.
One bad move of many on their part.
Regarding the failure of CXC or Ministries to treat to the matter, go ask Mary and Company if they have ever been told “No” this request is not feasible.”
Observing
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observing ” who going to foot the bill ”
well that is for govt to figure out.. not necessarily mean having to pass on fees to taxpayers , however for people like yourself that might be your selfish reason for govt not paying these teachers,,, any thing that must be borne by the taxpayers u would want no part of, however i guess if for one minute this issue might not have any kind of an impact on citizens pocket books nah word would have been said about the compensation except to demand govt to pay u guys are real hypocrites fuh trute …now i understand what the “real” issue to deter compensation is all about
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the bstu is in the drivers seat, there are not the ones to find the solution they have put their cards on the table of the moe, the moe can shuffle in any which way ,,,the moe own this issue and as watchers of an educational system all duties and responsibility to the children lies in their hands, also noteworthy in the process of finding a solution is that an educational system is dependent on its main source which are the teachers,
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From page 6, Saturday Sun 11 April, 2015:
“BAPPSS is of the view that there must be immediate dialogue between the teachers’ unions and the Ministry of Education…”
“The Barbados National Council of Parent Teacher Associations last weekend made a similar gesture to help resolve the dispute”
“It has also been revealed that the BSTU wrote the ministry on May8, 2014, informing them of the decision not to grade SBAs this year unless CXC agrees to some form of compensation.”
“To be honest with you, I do not know what it is the ministry has to do” – Minister Ronald Jones as reported on page 54 Barbados Today, 10 April, 2015.
The deadline for submission of CSEC SBA marks is 15 April, 2015.
Any comments Observing?
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the BSTU is continuing to get support a sure good sign of things to come,, , the timing of this issue could not have been better and a final resolution would be seen in haste,, the new found support can be attributed to Redmans tenacity for what is fair and duty bound for her members a plus and a most important factor in finding favor amongst the populace most who are women showing their suport and who understands that a woman fight for fair and justice has never been fully appreciated in a barbados,,hopefully the PM would add voice to this issue on his return to help find speedy resolve if the movement to do so becomes stagnated in who is right or wrong while ignoring the immediacy and continuing development of our present educated minds
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“…Barbados Union of Teachers’ (BUT) president Pedro Shepherd made it clear that while the BUT was supporting the BSTU on the issue of compensation for teachers, his union had not instructed its members not to mark the SBAs.” reported in the Nation Newspaper 13 April, 2015
“Et tu B(r)UT(e)?” with apologies to Shakespeare.
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@Ping Ping
The script is being followed. No surprises.
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Retired teachers and Ministry of Education personnel are apparently marking those SBAs that BSTU teachers did not mark. Has the BSTU been mortally wounded or is worse to come?
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@ Ping Pong
Mortally wounded bushie’s donkey…
It is called suicide.
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Bush Tea, you said re BSTU “It is called suicide”. How so?
They didn’t mark the SBAs, nor were they paid as they demanded. Thus they did not work for free as they did previously.
But the CXC get their papers corrected, according to the reports.
So the BSTU has generated much public approval regardless of tactics and although they appear ostracized by Ministry and regional officials how long will that last?
When are labor tactics ever really suicide! Suicide is final.
There is nothing about their actions or the repercussions that indicate such finality of a closing of a casket lid.
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@ Dee
It is suicide to deliberately pick a fight that you cannot possibly win;
….one that even if you ‘won’ the objective you set out to achieve – you are only hurting yourself;
… and one that your soldiers does not fully support.
It is suicide to pick a fight with a foe who you cannot possibly hurt, …just because you vex with a minister of eddy kashun…
it is suicide to tie a rope around your own neck and threaten to jump off the CXC ship when you willingly joined the crew back at the port…
What else would you call it….?
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Attempted suicide.
>
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Well WeLL it is not over till it is over,,,how many retired teachers and ministry officials in the long haul would continue to work for no pay, i guess time will tell. Redman has not lost the battle// as usual a band aid approach to stop the bleeding until those volunteers would get a taste and a close encounter of what the teachers have to endure and recoil.
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“Retired teachers and Ministry of Education personnel are apparently marking those SBAs that BSTU teachers did not mark. Has the BSTU been mortally wounded or is worse to come?”
The mere fact that such scab labour tactics can be employed clearly indicates that Teaching is not seen as a’ profession’ at all in Barbados.
Even ac &co would stand out as gurus in that “cheap” labour market.
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@Miller
What is says is that the MoE has a plan and it does not bode well for the teachers based on his mouthings. Everything in Barbados is being dismantled.
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the teachers have a stance too in the end if the MOE used a band aid approach to stop the bleeding it would sure backfire in their faces, the task of bringing in untrained help to rectify this problem will complicate and aggravate adding unnecessary problems to this issue.
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What has Minister Jones accomplished in his tenure?
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Minister Jones should not be solely blamed for this problem, however he should not be looking for answers by using the children as shields, this is a problem between grown folks the children involvement comes about because their are students ,however if this was an university having the same issue ,one would hardly believe that statements bandied about to hid behind the students would take on a significant meaning, moreover the task of finding a solution would TAKE Predecent, A SURE SIGN OF one that is missing on the ongoing fight between the MOE and the BSTU, The MOE seems all but content in hiding behind the children and using diversionary tactics as solutions, NOT GOOD
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David
As I recall Minister Jones’s renamed a few schools and opened a nursery.That’s about it from the superheaded braying JA.
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@Gabriel
Let us give him AX.
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Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the center cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world…
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Prison time for those teachers in the cheating scandal in Atlanta:
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@ David
“What has Minister Jones accomplished in his tenure?”
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Be fair David….. Jones has had a major accomplishment since being appointed Minister of Eddy Kashun…. Football.
He has facilitated a major revival of the most played and loved sport globally since his appointment.
Wuh you think he would have lost that position – operating without financial controls or performance targets and outside of the scope of the Auditor General- if he was not MoE?
His contribution to Education is also in the works….. when his ass is ejected from that critical national position.
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Giving an early notice and invitation to one and all.
On Friday April 24, 2015, Hon. OWEN ARTHUR MP, will be the featured speaker at the DLP Weekly Lunch time Lecture.
His topic ” Why Mia Mottley supports Barbados move to Republican status: A reflection of her major speeches on the topic”
Miller and Prodigirl…….I am sure will be there…….as Mia Mottley’s ssilence on this recent discussion……DISTURBS them unendingly.
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I think the BSTU has achieved their objective.Either pay for marking the SBA’s or make alternative arrangements.The MOE went for option 2,which was always on the table,so why the conclusion of suicide?This issue is not over by a long shot.
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@ Fractured BLP April 15, 2015 at 6:57 AM
We love you bad, bad, bad, Fractured.
One thing about you though, Fragile DLP, you are really a mole doing its work in undermining the DLP. You really project those jackasses in Cabinet as a real bunch of clowns merely there to entertain and provide oil for the political spinning wheel of comedy.
Now how would the Rt. Hon OSA appear before that august crowd? Like the Emperor bedecked in his DLP finery but with his BLP politically dead penis and flatulence-filled buttocks on show?
Are you conveniently forgetting (while you were peeping through the wide open window) how the same OSA was ‘undressed’ in Parliament by the Fumble and subsequently stripped naked of his dignity when he was further exposed in his plot to trade Mia to the enemy in return for his loyal backing of King Stuart against the Eager 11 band of coup leaders?
How can poor OSA degrade himself like that by stooping so low as to take a bush bath in the filthy cesspool of deceit, lies and paranoia?
If he does, he certainly will be creating history as being the first P M not to go mad as hell but to actually attend his own political funeral.
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@ Gabriel April 15, 2015 at 9:16 AM
It would be interesting to find out if those scabs are being paid for marking those SBAs. Are they doing it ‘gratis’ for the sole purpose of marking in the interest of the nation’s future?
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@ Gabriel
“I think the BSTU has achieved their objective.”
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ok Great!
….to what end?
The VERY first step to success is in selecting sensible objectives.
Any idiot can achieve a foolish objective….even ac.
The BSTU took an arguable case and leveraged it to achieve a shiite objective related to petty pay.
Now what they have achieved is;
..increased enmity between themselves and their bosses:
..between themselves and parents / PTA;
..between themselves and students who feel betrayed;
..between themselves and CXC (who want shutting down).
..between themselves and temporary teachers (potential members)
..between themselves and Principals
….oh…and they got to NOT grade projects that they designed and grew over the last year…
What an objective….
This is sure to increase the chances of extracting REALLY meaningful concessions in future negotiations with these various publics…right??
steupssss…
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Bushman
How long is too long if The BSTU is unable to get a spoken or written response of any position from their employer the MOE.Gaul blimmuh Bushie,it is almost 10 years the red lady waiting for something from them jokers now led by 2 primary school teeshurs a la Pedro’s pronouncement.
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@ Gabriel
OF COURSE it is too long, but the answer to dealing with a jackass is not to behave like one too…
You think Bushie was joking about the CORRECT response to CXC?
If most of those teachers had just returned a casual mark of 95% and said to CXC that they were getting what they paid for, CXC’s ass would have been in the grass.
You would have seen how fast they move to protect their accreditation and reputation…
..Teachers would have co-operated (since it took little effort)
..The Ministry could not do one shiite
..The Children could have been dealt with behind the scenes to ensure they benefitted from the exercise
..The PTA would not give one shiite
..The principals would have stood aside and smiled
WIN WIN WIN…
…But no….
threaten the damn children with an ‘ungraded’…as if the ministry or CXC gives two shits…
In short, the red lady is a damn joker who should look for a good husband instead of making the damn place miserable…
..Bushie recommends Old Onions… cause it looking like the sea cat woman dunning wid he just now….
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@BushTea
Understand the message you are sending by teachers giving a ‘mark’ to SBAs. What about teacher credibility?
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How can credibility be an issue if they say UP FRONT that they are providing CXC with appropriate value for the money they are paid?
If you insists on having brain surgery done on your child at no charge … can you demand the highest professional surgical standards? ….boss, beggars CANNOT be choosers…
Is not an even bigger credibility problem with students /parents /public being created now…?
…can you imagine the fallout when details of students “just missing scholarships”, “not accepted at universities” etc. start to emerge as a result of this nonsense?
If credibility was an issue, the damn union should have addressed these issues UP FRONT when first introduced, and negotiated proper terms and conditions then…
..not tacitly agree to go along with the shiite and now want to unilaterally set new rules….
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can you imagine the fallout when the MOE experiment with retired teachers who have not been in the educational system for approximately ten and more years and who now have to feverishly and most likely relearn or be trained on practically all aspects of retrieving and inputting data to access students information…the braying jackass professor bush shite always use simplex solutions to solve complicated and complex problems i bet the jerk believes it is as easy as using a bush whacker to pull weeds,
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Don’t agree with you Bushie, there is industrial relations practice designed to confront the concerns of workers, they should not have to resort to being deliberately manipulative in assigning marks.
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http://themadmanchronicles.com/2014/01/26/radiated-milk-sold-in-black-neighborhoods-the-art-of-slow-genocide/
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David
So far Bushie is the only one that is making any sense. If you take on a duty that was not yours to begin with, after a few years you cannot assert that it is not your duty. The union did its members a disservice by not insisting up front on payment. In effect, they are trying to correct the misrepresentation that they inflicted on the workers. Nothing is wrong with that.
Even though correcting the SBAs can now be considered to be part of the duties of teachers, there is no reason why teachers should not not seek to improve their conditions of service. And anybody, who seeks to adversely affect teachers because they took action through their union to improve their conditions of service, is committing an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $1,000 or six months imprisonment. That is the penalty in accordance with section 40A of the Trade Union Act.
> Teachers have a legal right to do what they are doing. My problem, with the union is that over the years, is that they seem to have forgotten who they were in existence to serve. If they had that in mind from the beginning this matter would have never reached this stage. This matter should have been settled before the first ever SBA was corrected.
>
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What ever the union did upfront was for the best interest of the children,no body is thinking about that and most likely the work load was less intensive,,if the union upfront had asked for increase of pay the same dam shitty excuses to shove the teachers to the side and make them shut up would have been used… now that the workload has become intensive the agreements are being look at again by the BSTU and there is nothing absolutely wrong with that, it is part and parcel of a democratic and capitalist society called” protecting ones interest” , ….nevertheless it is inexcusable for any employer to hire a person to do a particular job and then try to exact more work from the employee for the same pay it is cruel and unheard of in this day and age, it is the equivalency of slavery,
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Check out out LAWYERS in the NEWS page,
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It isn’t over ’til the fat (or is it “red” ?) lady sings… deadline for submission of CSEC SBAs has been extended and CAPE SBAs still to come. Given the concerns about the integrity of SBA marks, will CXC now have to mark (or remark) all SBAs?
http://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/66432/questions-raised-integrity-sba-marks
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Has the MOE issued a public statement on the matter lately?
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@ping pong
The status quo remains the same. No marks, no grade. Teachers (or the school) have to submit those marks. .
Integrity my eye. A big “red” herring if I ever heard one.
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what a dumb remark by minister Jones ,, as an educator he of all people should understand and recognize that quality work is produce in an environment conducive to both teacher and student .. and to hear him make asinine comments over the airwaves pointing out that the teachers asking for a pay grade is a negative which is an hindrance or an erosion to the quality of their work for the student was dumfounding ,, Is he for real,,,,,
shite man if all i do was to work for the bossman for neck skin to nutting and be told i should be glad i have a job,, one day fuh sure the bossman a,ss would be grass,,
Big man next time you open yuh mout to condemn workers for asking for a fair pay grade think on those things,
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Redman raises new concerns about integrity of exams
The MOE handling of this issue is absurd using the unhealthy motive of trying to prove who is right and who is wrong border on a childish and unprofessional tacyics flies in the face of what is proper and ethical in providing a healthy and pristine working enviroment for teachers and children,
How in the face of Good governance can the MOE compromised the integrity of the children’s education by using interventions which can add more challenges to a process which all expects to sound proof
Concern has been raised that the integrity of the School Based Assessment (SBA) for some students could be compromised, with the correction of these papers by some heads of departments and, in some cases, temporary teachers.
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Steupsss @ AC
PURE SOUR GRAPES…
..far more likely that the integrity has been IMPROVED by having an independent correction of the damn papers….
You and Redman should really think (would that help?) before yapping shiite…
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Bush sh.it the MOE going to soon see the sour of their asinine alternatives when the grading of the SBA,s fall way below educational standards . I hope u and others who belive that by throwing out the baby with the bathe tub and end result to this problem would be achieved would be as forgiving if the resulting process becomes disruptive and flawed.
What the MOE needs to understand that a flow of consistency is necessary to create an atmosphere of confidence relating to these Sba results and not providing haphazard solutions which will erode and breed suspicions in the final result
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Ministry of Education can end all this frustration if they come to the realization that an excessive demand of a workload is what is contributing to the call for pay, and not what the ministry would want people to believe that it all about the teachers being greedy ,
For the MOE to bring an unethical and immoral attitude and lay it on the table as sufficient grounds to ignore the BSTU cries for compensation for many years is unprincipled immoral and wrong .. How is it wrong you ask…..Prudence and doing what is right both in the interest of student and teacher should be the standard bearer
The wickedness that is being talk about bodes well for the ministry as well just for the sheer clandestine attitude taken over the years to ignore and delay the teachers request
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Let the facts speak.
http://m.barbadostoday.bb/bbt/db_258717/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=DQcvFao4
Let Miss Redman be judged accordingly. More will come over time.
Just observing
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There is an obvious moral disconnect missing by the CXC examinin board one which calls for that which is fair and right.saving money on the backs of. teachers is unethical.Teachers concerns cannot andshould not be dismissed as a few among the faternity whose mission is to be disruptive but should be placed under the lenses of a realism with an attached mandate that demands fairness
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