COVID 19 Impact
One only has to drive pass the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) any day of the week during the the 3PM to 6PM time slot to appreciate the debilitating effect the raging pandemic continues to wreck on the country’s main economic sector. The number of vehicles seen in the car park can be comfortably counted on a single hand.
Consistent with how Covid 19 has catspraddle business the recent posting of Goddards Enterprises 9 month unaudited financial statement paints the sorry tale.
The threat to a sustainable way of life is real!
The inability of key stakeholders – the Ministry of Education (MOE) and respective teacher’s unions to discuss Covid 19 protocols in a constructive environment in order to facilitate the commencement of the proposed September 21, 2020 term has come as no surprise. The relationship between successive governments, Barbados Secondary Teachers Union (BSTU) and Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) has been unnecessarily acrimonious through the years. The same point made here about the failure to pass the Integrity in Public Life Bill is apt. All sides will never secure what they want, however, for the greater good there must be give and take.
Our leaders MUST find the solution to get the nation’s children back to school. All agree we have to find ways to coexist with Covid 19 because it will be with us for the foreseeable future even if a vaccine or therapeutic treatment is approved by end of year. This is not the time for the unions and MOE to engage in the usual pedantic offerings cloaked under the guise of industrial relations best practice. Children getting back to the classroom has wider implications for the country if we assess the relationship between home, school and work.
It was reported the 340 teachers and principals who turned up today for a general meeting called by the MOE had a constructive engagement. Let us hope attempts will be made to share findings with the executive of the BUT and BSTU to ensure there is consensus on the best way forward. Although the unions are important stakeholders the MOE has the responsibility to lead the process.
The issue of the reopening of schools is one high on the agenda for almost every country in the world. The risk benefit to decisions taken by the MOE must be data driven. There is the reality we have to accept that COVID 19 is active in the environment we have to exist, therefore there is an inherent risk to being infected. This means controls to mitigate must be well thought out, publicised, monitored and enforced. As adults – MOE, BSTU, BUT and others – we have a legal and moral duty to protect our children during one of the most frightening periods in the existence of humankind.
The feedback coming from some teachers that they are on vacation and should not have been asked to attend the meeting held today must be regarded as a minority view. If it is not then may God help us if this level of mentality exist. The government is on record declaring its committent to pay the large public sector wage bill until the economy improves. One thing the economists agree on is that it takes an economy longer to grow than it takes to contract. The time is coming soon when the government will have to start printing money and with it the implications for negative impact on the foreign reserves. The Freundel Stuart government found itself in a similar situation of printing money to pay public servants, a reread of archived central bank reports should remind us how that played out. Should we have the infants do a performance of ‘there’s a hole in my bucket dear Liza? This is not time for the usual political rhetoric.
We acknowledge the concerns of all sides.
We have to ensure the environment is safe for our students.
We have to ensure the method to deliver the curriculum ensures no child is left behind.
The use of the repetitive WE is not accidental.
https://www.facebook.com/BarbadosToday/videos/922289284923630/
I suggest that instead of listening to these so called Health Experts that say we should hide in our homes and wait for a Vaccine which Historically has some severe side affects, why don’t we have local doctors (that don’t serve the Deep State) test the Trump proven HCQ along with Azithromycin and Zinc. Many doctors have promoted this 6 day cure in the USA and have been vilified by the Pharma companies because they don’t make any money on it. Before you jump up and down and say that there will be a shortage for those with Lupus and others I suggest that someone with some brains either contact Trump or the Indian Health Authorities and get some. Provide it to the people at a reasonable price and be damned with the Deep State and Pharma companies.! Whose more important ? The people and the Economy or Big Pharma ?
Source: Nation News
Source: Nation News
Uh-oh! Another ‘Deep State’ looney!
I do believe Santia has erred in reaching outdirectly to teachers. That was never going to work.
The concerns of teachers are legitimate. There should be no heavy hand here. This is a difficult situation where consensus can only be reached by cold heads and an understanding of the issues facing all sides. Teachers have children too. I am certain they wish them to be taught.
They also wish them to grow up with parents.
No need for the heavy hand here.
@Donna
How was the matter managed in a heavy handed way? We are operating in a global pandemic with school opening sheduled for September 21. This is a time for out of the box approaches given the importance of addressing the education of our children. This is a conversation ongoing across the globe. Our unions have a track record for engaging in too much politics. The ministry of education via the PS and minister have a right to reach out to the teachers, one of the most important stakeholders.
As the late Gladstone Holder said: language defines a person. Note the language: “I” “ the minister” “my”I and my , obviously the only difference between Bradshaw and Jones is the delivery. This using and blaming teachers is nothing new coming from the BLPDLP.
Errol Barrow once said he could deal with them because he was a bomber pilot in some war; Louis Tull when he wanted teachers to give up their lunch hour to supervise children, told the public that teachers don’t care because they would let the children eat without washing their hands a A bd spread disease.
Sometimes union leaders worship their political masters: Mary Redman put on the now ruling party red colors and marched all up and down behind the party of her choice.
It is pure nonsense for Bradshaw to say that not all teachers are not represented by the same union. We know that! It is a direct attempt to undermine the unions.
This is always the case, going back to the mid seventies and under both administrations. Those teachers who don’t bend would be accused of not wanting to go back in the class room to teach but expect a cheque.
Senator Franklyn is right. The unions have been neutered.
The president and treasurer of the NUPW told the public, that they had “ crunched” the numbers and the last administration could afford a 23% percent wage increase for public servants. Then suddenly with a new administration settled for 5%.
Bradshaw has a lot of goodwill going for her but she is squandering it with this stupidity of trying to divide and rule. On this path she will be another failure in this ministry and will join all the rest who went before her , perhaps with two exceptions : Sandiford and Miller.
We all want normalcy and the children back in school but high handed political gamesmanship is not the way. Quite frankly I see no urgency and this period should be used to plan right and reopen the schools in January , if the COVID is still under control. In the mean time , we should be trying to tweak all the problems with online teaching so that if the COVID becomes a further challenge we could better handle the online situation.
So, delaying the opening until next year thereby giving us time to get every single school up to required protocols; using such time to tweak and continue online teaching will be actually like killing two birds with one stone.
Colonialist divide and rule plantation styled government will eventually kill us all. At least spare our children this buffoonery.
David
Covid has more damage to a dying capitalism that governments can only resort to turning working people and our children into cannon fodder to feed the maw of their Covid war machine
Let me start from the top. In my mind there is no plausible reason why school cannot restart IN SOME FORM with regard to the present COVID-19 situation in Barbados. The govt’s defense is that current protocols have seen at one point in time a reduction to 0 active cases and the present active cases have been imported. The curfews and stay at home orders have been removed and as yet there has been no”community spread” of COVID-19 in Barbados. Reading the articles that DavidBU posted and from what i have heard over the news, the teachers unions are just ( for lack of a better term)”frustrating” the process. They have presented weak responses to stop the meetings farless presenting a fundamental case as why schools cannot restart. Caswell as union leader is only using “officialese” as reason why a minister cannot meet with teachers. The bigger picture is that the Ministry wants to find out from teachers their concerns and any other reasons why schools cannot restart.
The reopening of school is a policy matter . Obviously, the Minister of Education have had inputs from the COVID -19 Advisory Committee and needed the inputs of the main stakeholders – principals and teachers. This is not an industrial issue and I am of the opinion that the Teachers Unions are out of order. Parents ought to have been included.They have had a hard time with the distance learning experiment. The children are developing problems with their eyes from staring at bright flickering screens, not to speak of the low level radiation.
So we do need to get back to the class rooms with social distance protocols. Maybe we can have classes with 15 pupils or less with morning and afternoon sessions.
@Vincent
If GDP is a measure of economic activity, are we to assume that if schools were not functioning fully that such inactivity would impacted the economy, however slight?
You are right about the teachers’ unions. They have proven themselves to be enemies of the state. Where did this atavistic behavioural attitude come from?
@ Hal Austin at 9 :34 AM
Yes. All domestic activities that have been put on lockdown have impacted negatively on economic growth. Directly , those who operate school canteens,the private transport systems ,and those providing ancillary services at schools constitute a leakage to the circular flow of income. We may have little control of the external economy but the domestic economy, small though it be, is under our control.
@VC as an experienced former civil servant your views are ‘interesting’ or troubling depending on one’s perspective!
Isn’t the ENTIRE process of gaining input from ”the main stakeholders” fully defined or ‘established’ by having small groups of selected representatives (called unions oftentimes) – whether for principals or teachers – as the conduit for gathering info???
Of course meetings of the ‘full’ population of principals/teachers can be convened but realistically what more or better data will be gained that could or would not have been passed through the ‘union’ reps. This type of grandstanding is POLITICAL posturing as the admin is bluntly signaling that the unions are obstructionists and no longer viable partners for negotiations … so in sum they are clearly also signaling that it is “an industrial issue”.
Maybe a teacher or two can come on and explain how ‘much time’ during the closing stages of the last school term was time ‘wasted’ that could have been used for teacher group meetings led by MoE executives!
Or they can speak of the Zoom and at-school meetings they attended on various matters during those last weeks…. all types of minutiae of school governance were decided in the background (as it should be) … so note, the reported remark by teachers that ”they attended the session because they were summoned by their employer”.
The issues now being faced are very much the same as were known then so any argument that the period since offered new data points that better informed decisions is blather. They could have covered this ground weeks ago without trying to paint teachers as recalcitrant malcontents who didn’t want to give up just one day of their paid holiday!
This, as in other parts of the world is just pure and simple ridiculous, “heavy-handed” political posturing and has absolutely no place in the serious process of getting our schools and life back on track.
The curfews and stay at home orders have been removed and as yet there has been no”community spread” of COVID-19 in Barbados.
(~_~)
Tell that to the bars and nightclubs that were closed because their patrons believed that too.
@ Vincent
Children have been staring at those bright flickering screens long before the distance learning experiment. Even now with the schools on holiday, many of those same children will stare at said same screens all day and night.
This does not in anyway seek to dispute your assertion that they are developing eye problems.
@ dpD
The call for the inputs of persons with direct skin in the reopening schools is not an industrial issue.What is being sought are solutions to very pragmatic matters. The widest possible suggestions are relevant. To suggest that the union leadership has all the relevant knowledge and experience is repugnant to common sense.
By the way, I spent a very short early period of my life in the Civil Service. The bulk of my working life was in the wider Public Sector corporations. I was not hemmed in by following precedents.
Maryanne Redman clarified this morning the MOE changed the conditions of the meeting after it was agreed. Also the BSTU did not ‘instruct’ its membership whether to attend the meeting called by the MOE. Here we go again.
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@ Raw Bake
What is the point you are making? Just because something is being done should I not point out that an implementation of a GoB method of delivering child education exposes more children to health hazards?
@ Raw Bake
There is more to education than covering a syllabus. We are Homo Sapiens. Direct social contact between child and teacher is faster and more diagnostic…..quicker communication and feed back. Of course we can develop automata….posterity without emotional intelligence. How much of our heartless crimes are inspired by what some perpetrators saw on TV as youngsters?
Correction – cool heads
@Raw Bake i ain’t understanding your “logic”. Bars and nightclubs were totally closed until around July 1st. They were among the last places allowed to reopen BUT with conditions. If you don’t follow those conditions you will be shutdown. No different than when a health inspector shuts down a restaurant . The situation in Barbados is not like in other countries like Jamaica or even Trinidad that have a invasive spread of Covid 19 within the country.
David,
William Skinner has given my answer for me.
As I said, teachers have children They also want them to be taught. They have this in common. This should not be so hard.
There you go! It has happened before. After one has agreed one should not change the conditions unilaterally.
I heard Miss Redman on Brass Tacks on this issue. My impression is that mass media is making this matter more confrontational than what it really is in an effort to “sell news”. It would also explain why the BUT did not “deter members from attending the meeting” as compared to an outright objection against it. All that has to be done is govt can hold subsequent meetings to the satisfaction of the teachers’ unions. What the govt has done is to start the ball rolling and held a meeting for those teachers willing to attend regardless of if they are union members.
Barbados has a golden opportunity to change its education system. It idyllic climate is ignored, no reason schools cannot operate 12 months of the year. This is an instant reduction in class sizes, as students will rotate when their “term” is off. And teachers will now work 12 months a year, with vacation taken in line with the rest of society. They will have a group of non-assigned teachers who will ‘fill in’ as required. This summer off concept was born in places where climate make schools less habitable without extra air handling capabilities.
On another note, if a private sector conglomerate decided to pull the move of speaking directly to employees, represented by multiple unions, the noise would be immense.
@Disgusting Lies and Propaganda TV
Earlier you said:
–> The curfews and stay at home orders have been removed and as yet there has been no”community spread” of COVID-19 in Barbados.<–
In other words, the children can go back to school.
I said:
–> Tell that to the bars and nightclubs that were closed because their patrons believed that too.<–
In other words, the authorities ain’t too sure, so dem suffered the consequences of their patrons not doing wuh de people seh fuh do.
I think it will be a challenge getting school children to observe protocols, but that is based on my fuzzy “logic”
I taught for a number of years as a young and healthy woman who had no children of her own and no responsibility. I also loved the job. That was thirty years ago when children were far easier to handle.
You want teachers to teach with three or four weeks vacation?
You want mad ass teachers?????
Minister Bradshaw just explained her side on national radio and a good explanation it was too.
@NO
Our school year was adopted from other countries e.g. the long summer vacation is modelled on the countries where children were expected to help the family on the farm harvest the crops in summer so they needed the extra time off.
What about Gov’t? Where did the idea of pre- retirement leave come from? I’ll bet it is a hangover from the time when all the senior positions in Gov’t were held by folks from the mother country and when they left the locals carried on the practice.
We can muse about changing the school system but the first person to try to do it will be burned in effigy on the Garrison.
@ Vincent
The point is; this is an age where children are staring at screens even before they can walk. As they get older, the time spent on these devices increase to the point that parents routinely confiscate them as a means of punishment. No cou cou stick, leather belt or tamarind rod required any longer.
I didn’t gather that parents were perturbed by the three hour long sessions.
RE: @ Raw Bake
There is more to education than covering a syllabus.
Vincent, you should try telling that to the Ministry and the Minister.
I’ll bet it is a hangover from
S/B I’ll bet it is a holdover from
School for 12 months a year. Why not make it 13.
Do you think the students would survive and if they do…. Perhaps the weekend is too long.
You must forgive me. I have this throwaway bucket that I use too quickly and too often. Once it hit the bucket, my narrow mind and limited intellect takes over.
If VC likes the above comment… We will be enemies for life 😄
There are some things that need to change and there are some things that don’t. When I was enjoying my teaching I used to be glad for vacation time and equally glad to return. At the end of every term I was exhausted and my voice was gone. Those children were relatively sweet and not rude or inclined to fight very often or beat teachers at all. There were no weapons in that school or a proliferation of gang activity as there is now.
In my opinion a week or two could be shaved off the summer vacation but nothing more unless you want teachers with nervous breakdowns.
School operating in more months of the year doesn’t mean that all other things should stay the same, perhaps the school day could be shortened but students would be able to spend the same number of hours in class. I’ve noticed that students and people in general lose concentration after midday, I’m sure there are stats that measure productivity during the morning vs productivity during the afternoon.
@ Donna
The vacations are really for the children. Only a joker would want children in school all year. These stupid politicians don’t have any idea of what our teachers go through. They have little respect for teachers, especially primary school teachers. The problem we have is the public being brainwashed against the teachers. This political hatchet job started in the 70s.
Some very young teachers suffer from hypertension, mental and physical fatigue because of the abuse of some parents , administrators and students.
Teachers often go beyond their duties and sometimes they are the only hope the children have.
We have spent forty years sweeping every known negative under the carpet. Every single negative that COVID has exposed was always there waiting to be exposed. There is no where to run and hide now.
We are too ashamed to accept that the country has been in decline for sometime.
Personal testimonials offer hope but they are never the reality for those who are barely getting a good daily meal.
I always say the child who pulls a fridge door and has five choices of cheese and three choices of a high quality juice , cannot even imagine that a child sitting next to him or her , has not seen a really good meal for months.
And so it is with teachers. Anybody who has not had the experience of teaching could never imagine the horrors of the profession.
But, that’s how we are.
What is the issue again?
Let us restate.
During an unprecedented time caused by a pandemic in the form of COVID-19 members of the general public are ‘pissed’ key stakeholders lack the competence to agree to immediate solutions to efficiently manage how we deliver education to our children.
Why is every decision made is becoming confrontational with one individual who was totally silent for years and all of a sudden that voice is heard with every issue? Before I elaborate, let me deal with the refusal of Union Representatives engaging teachers from attending two crucial meetings with Ministry Officials headed by Minister Bradshaw prior to the re-opening of schools on September 21, 2020. Both Union heads were adamant that face-to-face meeting should not be held stating social distancing will not be adhered and it would be better to have virtual zoom meetings. That is utter nonsense since it would be impossible for teachers to have the freedom to be involved. The location of the Gymnasium with its high-tech audio system is far better giving teachers, Ministry officials and Unions to have uninterrupted dialogue.
I was totally disappointed with the behaviour of Wendell Callender arrogant behaviour on Brass Tack regarding alternatives for the face to face meeting. I say no more.
I want to know the decision why Mr. Know-it-all from the Unity/Opposition and Upper house have to response to every statement using unknown jargon to pretend he is an unmatched guru. Unfortunately, a Minister has the right to speak to his/her staff on crucial matters. In order for easy consultation knowing teachers and headteachers would like to quiz the Minister and her staff, a face to face encounter would be better once Covid 19 protocols are. Franklyn, sometimes you have to look away sometimes. Whilst at it, how many teachers signed up with your union?
@David
members of the general public are ‘pissed’ key stakeholders lack the competence to agree to immediate solutions to efficiently manage how we deliver education to our children.
++++++++++++++++
Are you serious? The word “unprecedented” has been overused in this situation but this is an unparalleled situation in modern times. Teachers/Administrators/Politicians/Parents/Students all over the world are having a difficult time coming to grips with this situation, there is no “best” solution and to expect people to come to “immediate solutions” is the height of lunacy. I expect the folks in Barbados will have many discussions before they come up with a model that is acceptable to the majority of all concerned.
@Sargeant
You do realize the issue last week was agreeing to what form the meeting should have taken?
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@ TheOGazerts at 1:31 and 1 :34 PM
I recognized the sarcasm hence the Like. I am OK with the enemies for life threat. We need to get practical in this blessed country of ours. Why are we still playing petty political games? We are in a crisis and we have to stop playing games and get on with our lives. We must have a protocol so that we may not retrogress in the field of education and social cooperation.I would hazard a guess that unions in our situation have lost traction. We need solidarity in a crisis.
Another matter to consider is that not all teachers are members of the unions.
>
William Skinner,
I know the vacations are really for the children. But the person who suggested they be cut was suggesting children attend at different times.
What I am saying though is even when children were relatively easy to manage and teaching was a joy I was glad for the vacations to recuperate.
I would not wish forty-eight straight weeks of teaching in today’s school climate on our teachers. That would be manslaughter.
My son had a few more rotten teachers than I had but most of his teachers tried their best and some were wonderful. There are some I meant to thank personally and send a fruit basket for but my son kept putting off his visit. When school re-opens he will probably not able to do anything other than collect the certificates we never picked up. We will find a way to thank them.
No doubt some teachers will spend even more of their own money on students and supplies this year.
I considered it a privilege to be able to spend it thus in my days of teaching. Those were great days spent with teachers who really cared. What a bunch they were!
round and round the mulberry bush we go
Just observing
@Observing
That pretty much sums it up.
@David
Yup
While everyone is trying to mark their “turf” our children and their parents are left clueless and uncertain.
Just observing
I can’t understand what is wrong with our government ministers and ministries. On one hand they say COVID is a serious thing, nothing to play with and implement harsh protocols they say are following the science and best medical advice but they selectively flaunt the rules when it suits them.
If our protocol restricts gatherings to less than 500 people, why ask for a special exemption to hold a meeting in the air-conditioned gymnasium of all places when the science clearly states the virus is most likely to spread in air-conditioned above all other environments. Was a deal made with the virus to not infect the attendees or do they know something about this the true nature of this virus they have not been telling us?
School is the head place for rules so the ministry should be the last government ministry to exploit the loopholes in the existing COVID protocols.
Is Barbados the US or U.K.? Have we not stopped community spread? It is a MOE supervised event.
I am sure most persons would love to know when school will re open since the children are eating them out of house and home. I figured at this time parents would like to hear what the need of the teachers are so the protocols put in place would not cause any problems with their child and the teacher,or the teacher and the parents, that will impact the delivery of education. When it was computer time some teachers did not even come on to offer work.what will happen if the protocols don t suit them,?
This is one of the most important things that all parties should focus on. I am tired of party and politics. I am also tired of Mr Franklin jumping up at everything there are times when you observe,
We as Barbadians love to complain , love to feel as though we have all the answers to the problems but still at square one. Thanks to covid 19 we should get a glimpse of who really want to work and to do a good job at it. If you are working please give it your best there are people out there who gave it their best but home and the worst are left.
Source: Nation News
Caswell Franklyn is right.
Government Ministers have been overstepping their bounds and being too hands-on with their ministries and doing their permanent secretary’s job. I don’t know if the ministers have not been told their role is akin to that of a chairman of a company board responsible for developing, approving and funding overall policies while the permanent secretaries’ (Chief Education Officer) job is akin to the president of a company where he/she manages staff, implements said policies and recommends changes based on their experience, training and feedback from their staff. If ministers keep stepping on the permanent secretary’s toes, let’s get rid of the PS job and save that money.
At this stage of the consultation, the only persons meeting with teachers should be ministry officials. The most the minister should have been doing is giving a kick-off speech at the start of the meeting defining the goals and how the information gathered from the ministry-teacher consultation will be used. That kick-off speech should have been done online and placed on youtube with the consultation being private.
You will note from the press that the PS confirmed she issued the invitation supported by communication from the minister. Who to blame. We live in extraordinary times.
Are we there yet??
@David
“You will note from the press that the PS confirmed she issued the invitation supported by communication from the minister.”
That should read the CEO not PS, but yes you are very correct. Extraordinary times!
Didn’t this same minister “invite herself” without resistance to one Union’s Annual General Meeting and spoke with the members there and then???
Just observing
@Observing
Thanks!
Will the real leaders please stand up?
>
@ David Bu
Good post as usual. I think some commenters are unaware how policy is determined and who is responsible for policy in the Westminster form of Governance. The minister is responsible for policy,but the formulation of policy is an iterative process between the governed,the technocrats, and the government. Minister Santia Bradshaw is an exemplary practitioner of this model. She knows she does not have all the answers and she seeks feedback and inputs from other relevant stakeholders. I notice this very early in her political career. It blossomed in her handling of the COVID crisis ,when she acted as PM.
We have a practical problem of getting our children back into schools,with expert teachers. A machine and parents stressed out and untrained in education is a recipe for disaster.
@ Vincent
Is implementation not the responsibility of the technocrats and the formulation of policy the responsibility of the elected ministers (government)? Afterall that is what they were elected for. Civil servants do not make policy. That IS the Westminster form of government.
However, in yet another blistering response, Bradshaw vowed not to be constrained by “outdated” practices that have outlived their usefulness.
“I can’t be a minister trying to shape policy without being able to engage with the people who will help me implement the policy, and therefore the approach taken and the comments made by Senator Franklyn are unfortunate, because I cannot be held to a position that was taken out of custom and practice over 30 of 40 years ago when the demands of our society today require that we consult,” she said on Wednesday.
https://barbadostoday.bb/2020/08/27/minister-promises-to-keep-engaging-teachers/
@ Critical Analyser just like Caswell you are using “officialese” giving the impression that the Minister is bypassing the “chain of command” at the Ministry giving some indication that she has lost confidence in ministry officials!!!!!. This is not a typical “Ministry vs Teachers” confrontation in the direct sense..this is a govt via the MOE trying to facilitate teachers in a consultative process whereby the Govt is trying to find a way forward for the education system in a COVID-19 environment as it stands in Barbados!!!!!. The “dispute” is specifically how that process should happen. If anything the Minister MIGHT be forcing the issue in trying to make these meetings come to fruition. In THIS specific case…for the minister to have to communicate to teachers via ministry officials would just be a senseless use of bureaucracy that would unnecessarily slow down this process!!!!.
@ Hal Austin
My intervention did not address the implementation of policy. It spoke to the formulation of policy : How to have a seamless reopening of schools . What you said about implementation is true but previous and certainly not in dispute by any of the commenters.
@Disgusting Lies and Propaganda TV
Let me simplify my position in as few words as possible. The minister is too involved in the day to day running of her ministry.
I see the meeting as the first consultation in the long Re-opening School Policy creation process which should ONLY have been amongst the Chief Education Officer and other ministry official and the teachers at this stage. I am not saying the minister cannot play a minor role in the meeting e.g. speaking about her expectations for the meeting BUT she cannot take a major part in the meeting itself. Teachers must be free to air their ideas and concerns without the added pressure of a minister being there.
Barbados used to have a structured Civil service with mostly competent leaders.
Each ministry had a Permanent secretary, Deputy permanent secretaries Senior civil servants.
Wha happen ? Did the good ones all die out ?
@Hants
They put Acting before all their names for longer than 3-6 months so they must tow the line or we will send you back to your substantive position after spending x years doing the job with a big drop in salary. They tore that page from the DLP playbook.
WE ARE LED TODAY BY INFERIOR SUPERIORS
“[Senator Franklyn’s] comments are very archaic. I have been elected to speak to the people, he has been selected. I cannot be bound by traditions
++++++++++++++++
In Bajan parlance “Know yuh place”
Waiting for the rejoinder
And the beat goes on
@ Vincent
If the minister if responsible for policy, but the civil servants are responsible for formulation of policy, are you saying the minister is handed policy and told to go and promote it by the civil servants?
To formulate means to create and that is the role of the government; in any case that IS NOT the so-called Westminster/Whitehall model of governance.
@ Hal Austin at 10:01 AM
I posit no such statement. I will therefore ignore it. Please reread my interventions on this matter.
@ Hants at 9:53 AM
The structure is still in place . The post holders have to carry the skill, the know how, and the professional ethics to these positions. Some of them are more confused than the commenters on this blog as to their power,responsibilities and the “savoire faire”.
https://www.facebook.com/gisbarbados/videos/622768525059896/
NOT ONLY WE ARE LED TODAY BY INFERIOR SUPERIORS
MOST WHO POST ON BU ARE OF INFERIOR INTELLECT TOO
@ David BU
Thanks for the upload.
@ Vincent
Good post as usual. I think some commenters are unaware how policy is determined and who is responsible for policy in the Westminster form of Governance. The minister is responsible for policy,but the formulation of policy is an iterative process between the governed,the technocrats, and the government…..(Quote)
The formulation of policy is nothing to do with any iterative process between the governed, the technocrats and the government, if by the governed you mean the electorate, the technocrats (civil servants) and government.
Policy is absolutely, 100 per cent, the role of government. The only role the governed play is by electing the government; and the civil servants implement policy.
@ Hal Austin at 11:03 AM
If that is your belief and your reality. So be it. In passing may I suggest that you ponder the word “Iterative”?
@ Vincent
I am familiar with the conventional linguistic definition, what is yours? I am saying simply that government makes policy, civil servants implement it and the governed vote for governments through their manifestos.
By the way, at a time when the Barbados economy is in terrible trouble, and the dollar is plummeting, we are here talking about the Westminster/Whitehall model of policy-making.
@Vincent
Your simple point is understood. One cannot formulate good policy without a quality information gathering exercise whatever form it takes. In a covid 19 world this becomes an even more important tactic. Forget the past, forget officialese, we are here now.
Hal Austin
By the way, at a time when the Barbados economy is in terrible trouble, and the dollar is plummeting, we are here talking about the Westminster/Whitehall model of policy-making
Xxxxx
Rabbit hole politics on BU everday nothing more to be expected
Nelson had a long run
Moving forward on the agenda is Trump
Soon to follow would be Quaker John and his usual historical waffle of religious groups and off springs
The Ministry of education and its leader are out to sea without a life raft on Covid
There is no set model on how schools must be opened also parents have a right to enter the dialogue with these called meetings
Yesterday meeting shows no purpose of finding a balanced and fair solution
But then again this is a govt who relies on political posturing to make a point
@ Mariposa
You are on the ball. We have a president, a former minister of education, a current minister, both talking about blending education, as if it is cheap whisky, and holistic education, as if it is a lesson from some Indian mystic.
After 14 years of Arthur, ten years of Stuart/Thompson, and two years of Mottley, we still do not have a clear educational policy. We do not have t o go back to Barrow’s introduction of ‘free’ secondary education.
A few years ago Dr Byer Suckoo raised the issue of the future of work and it went down like a damp squib. It is still a subject waiting to be debate.
In the meantime, we still have an 11+ based on essays in English, Comprehension (English again) and maths. And the bright, clever clogs are asking for it to be banned.
In the meantime, the wealthy and professional middle classes game the system by sending their little Johnnies and Joannas to private primary schools, which give t hem expert tuition to pass the 11+ and entry in to the top secondary schools.
So privilege continues to go on and on and on without a single word in opposition by politicians and political activists. In the meantime, BU continues to play its role in misdirecting the people of Barbados.
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@Vincent
Your simple point is understood. One cannot formulate good policy without a quality information gathering exercise whatever form it takes. In a covid 19 world this becomes an even more important tactic. Forget the past, forget officialese, we are here now.
+++++++++++
What does this mean?
@ Critical Analyser be that as it may, not withstanding prior cases where the Minister(s) or a Chairman of a board directly interfaces with “line workers”.There is a right way and a wrong way of doing such… If a minister does it and totally ignores the bureaucracy i.e. keeps middle and senior mgmt out of the loop then i would say the minister is out of line….if a Minister or Chair does it in a way that includes the bureaucracy i see it as less of a problem… A minister or chairman may adopt a direct style because their position carries “weight” The reality is that line workers FEELS that their concerns may be addressed more urgently if they talk to persons higher up the “chain of command” directly. On THIS specific issue, it is not a matter that govt is setting policy and forcing it on teachers. this is an instance where a government is trying to start a consultative process to include teachers (line workers) and having the rest of the MOE into the loop.
We are dealing with the education system. An important system on which a country depends upon to function just as important as the economic system to which the COVID-19 situation has hit both the hardest. To stress to allow the consultative process be facilitated only through bureaucratic lines is at this point ridiculous.
The minister is in charge and she can do what ever she pleases but she has avoid overriding other person’s roles and responsibilities and appear dictatorial. We put her there to speak on the people’s behalf not to talk to the people.
Here is the definition taken from the Ministry’s own site ( https://www.mes.gov.bb/About/Organisation /)
After reading this definition and watching the video posted by David at August 27, 2020 10:25 AM, what do you think?
I don’t know what process the powers that be intend to follow to craft the policy but I do know it should follow an “Iterative” process (to steal Vincent Codrington’s word) that respects and allows everyone to play their proper role and should go something like this.
Round 1 – Get all ideas and concerns into the Ministry’s hands
Consultation meetings of the teachers with the PS, Deputy PS, CEO and Deputy CEOs in small groups to keep it manageable. Allow email submissions from parents/guardians and teachers unable to attend the meetings.
Round 2 – Form the Draft policy
The Minister, PS, Deputy PS, CEO and Deputy CEOs use all the feedback to craft the policy.
Round 3 – Presentation of Draft policy
The Minister, PS, Deputy PS, CEO and Deputy CEOs can now circulate the draft policy and get any additional feedback.
That is the general idea of how any policy making process should be done.
I guess we will now proceed to conveniently abandon legislation and so on on the grounds that it is as all “legalese.” Amazing , just two years ago we were talking about the need for transparency and good governance.
Why don’t we just outlaw workers unions and professional bodies and give the ministers/parliamentarians free reign.
Well , as the oldsters say:“Everybody helps you to buy a big belly cow but they don’t help yuh feed um.”
These days are funny nights.
“Things get curiouser and curiouser.”
IS IT POSSIBLE THAT WE CAN GET MEN WHO FAILED AT THE POLLS TO RUN THE COUNTRY?
@ Critical Analyzer. Maybe, Caswell is promoting his Union by criticising the other Unions hoping a mass exodus will come join him. Politics and Union don’t mix.
@ GP. Next thing you will say is ” All those students who failed the Common Entrance should attend Harrison College, Combermere, Queen’s College etc. Whilst the “A” Students should attend Daryll Jordan etc.
NOT ONLY WE ARE LED TODAY BY INFERIOR SUPERIORS
MOST WHO POST ON BU ARE OF INFERIOR INTELLECT TOO
You say that with tongue in cheek……..
RE @ GP. Next thing you will say is ” All those students who failed the Common Entrance should attend Harrison College, Combermere, Queen’s College etc. Whilst the “A” Students should attend Daryll Jordan etc.
IT WOULD NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE SIR
RE NOT ONLY WE ARE LED TODAY BY INFERIOR SUPERIORS
MOST WHO POST ON BU ARE OF INFERIOR INTELLECT TOO
You say that with tongue in cheek……
ACTUALLY I MEAN THAT……IT IS VERY OBVIOUS TO ME..
I SAY WHAT I MEAN AND MEAN WHAT I SAY
It is the children that make the school ;not the school making the child. Each child makes his/her contribution to the ethos of the school. Until we get a scientific understanding of this issue we will always have this futile debate.
Coronavirus: ‘Reassuring’ study of children’s ‘tiny’ risk https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-53932294
I am concerned that the Government plans to resume school using the blended instruction approach. This will result in children being home between 50% to 75% of the time they would normally be at school. There is no evidence that the rate of infection in Barbados warrants this excessive approach. The educational disparities are only going to widen with disastrous consequences.
@ Ping Pong
I hope your post is untrue. We need to get back to face to face delivery of education. A form room for 30 students should hold 15 or 10 students comfortably with social distancing. Open air classes for music and nature studies. We need to be more creative in our use of space and teacher’s aids.
If most if not all other professions are back to work operating under appropriate protocols what is so special about teachers?
@ David BU at 4:31 PM
I pondered over that mystery as well. That is why I support the decision of wider consultations with members of the teaching and administrative staff at public schools.
One thing that we can be certain of is that no matter what plans the government advances, some will support and some will oppose.
Difference of opinions should be encouraged as ideas are more fully ventilated, but when it becomes ‘I must support/oppose the BLP’ then there is little or no value in having a discussion.
The Ministry of Health mandated social distancing requirements will make face to face delivery of education difficult. What evidence is there that the rate of infection in Barbados is so high that social distancing is required in schools?
If the typical class size is 30 students and the classrooms can only hold 15 students in accordance with social distancing requirements then where are the other 15 students to go? Answer: home.
Blending education????? Ora holistic education??? A government without a compass.
@ Ping Pong.
Home for half a day. That is better than whole day and no eye contact with teacher…. the expert on education. But like you, I would like a continuous review of the protocol for reducing/ eliminating the spread of COVID -19..
Supporting your child’s mental health as they return to school during COVID-19How parents can help their children navigate their feelings during school reopenings.
by UNICEF
Interesting article, elearning, blended learning- it is not about a laptop for every student. It is so much more.
https://www.ict-pulse.com/2020/08/5-e-learning-challenges-caribbean-countries-are-likely-to-experience-in-going-back-to-school/
The educational disparities between children is going to widen considerably. What evidence (not supposition)is there that COVID infection is a problem in Barbados at this time?
With open borders there is managing a potential risk given the current state of play.
There is no wider educational disparity than those who go to fee-paying schools and those who go to state-run schools. It is a disparity that follows them to the grave.
@Mr Hal Austin, I disagree (conditionally) with your 8:00 am comment. The greatest disparity is between those in school (of whatever kind) and those out of school!
https://www.facebook.com/gisbarbados/videos/2629476070639508
@ Ping Pong
We were discussing pre-11+ children. It is illegal to keep children out of school under the age of 16.