Ronald Jones could talk because he went on leave after the 30-love. He could talk because he has a fat pension as a former minister in Cabinet. He may not remember but he was the minister who saw teachers’ leave stopped in 2014 in the first place.
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Recognising hard work of teachers important
Tue, 07/13/2021 – 6:00am
By:
Cara L. Jean-BaptisteTHE events of last year have shown that the roles of teachers have reached new and unprecedented heights during 2020 and into 2021. It is therefore crucially important to demonstrate and commensurate the contributions made by teachers.
This comment was made by Senator Dr. Romel Springer, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training, during the recent virtual RF Bank and Trust Barbados National Distinguished Teachers Awards Ceremony.
“It is imperative that we examine the emergent roles of teachers during this period as they respond to the challenges that were brought on by a pandemic. The first role was to engage in self-development, training and self-learning, develop proficiency in delivering Virtual Teaching and supporting the remote and online learning of students. The learning curve for many of these teachers was quite steep, but they rose to the challenge. The second role was to support students in the efforts to come to grips with the socio-economic consequences of confinement during the lockdown and the burden for assigning likelihoods and earning capacities were significantly disrupted,” he said.
“During this period, many teachers have successfully developed the skills and competencies necessary to help many students cope with the resulting mental health challenges, which they face as a direct consequence of the lockdown. Several families or households have experienced significant unemployment, and loss of earnings.”
The Senator also noted that during this time, there was an increase in demand for digital technologies to support teaching and learning, which significantly exposed the digital divide that existed in this country, especially the lack of high-speed broadband Internet and access to devices to facilitate learning.
He revealed that the Ministry of Education, in partnership with corporate Barbados, NGOs, individuals, and other benefactors, had been able to provide support to the teachers and students to minimise the potential learning losses, and ensure that students were able to access meaningful learning opportunities.
It is within this context that Springer stated that the Ministry of Education wholeheartedly endorsed the pledge of RF Bank and Trust Barbados to continue to support teachers, educators, education system, and the young people of Barbados; and supported its efforts to recognise and reward teachers again this year.
“The challenge brought on by the pandemic, and the positive responses of the teachers, especially their contribution to virtual learning, made the recognition of this year’s awardees even more special,” he said.
“The Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training, take this opportunity to offer congratulations to the 10 teachers that are being recognised and awarded today, for having achieved being named as one of the 2020 National Distinguished Teachers. We are pleased to have such appreciation showered on our teachers and deeply value the partnership with RF Bank and Trust Barbados as it continues to recognise teachers.”
Source: BarbadosAdvocate
Common Entrance still on for July 28 – Common Entrance still on for July 28:
https://barbadostoday.bb/2021/07/17/common-entrance-still-on-for-july-28/
Fightback against CXC
Lawyers still battling on behalf of students, parents
by BARRY ALLEYNE barryalleyne@nationnews.com
THE LEGAL FIGHTBACK by a group of students against the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) and the Government of Barbados is under way.
Lawyers representing more than 60 students and a host of concerned parents have filed in the Supreme Court for leave to appeal and a draft notice of appeal to have a High Court decision from last month overturned.
The legal team also filed a constitutional motion, the basis of which is that CXC’s immunity from legal action is in breach of the students’ and Barbadians’ constitutional right to
protection of the law, as it precludes access to the court for resolution of disputes not just for students, but for anyone in Barbados who might have an issue against CXC.
‘No protection’
“An example of that is that if you walked on to CXC’s compound and fell into an open, unsecured well, you can’t sue them for damages for your injuries. So you have no protection against CXC’s breaches of duty toward you,” lead attorney for the students and concerned parents, Liesel Weekes, told the DAILY NATION.
On June 23, High Court judge Justice Michelle Weekes determined that the students had no standing to request the judicial review since the CXC was immune from such a lawsuit based on a certificate issued by Barbados’ Minister of Foreign Affairs, which states that CXC is not a Government authority susceptible to judicial review, and a creature of the Caribbean Examinations Council Act 39 (b) carrying out a function as an international organisation.
The judge had also ruled that Barbados’ Minister of Education could not independently of the other members (sovereign states) of the CXC, give the Council permission to do anything in Barbados.
Weekes, along with attorneys Bryan Weekes, Sukeena Maynard and Alexandra Dabiel, had sought judicial review of last year’s CXC Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination results and the format in which the 2021 exams were proposed, before it was denied by Justice Weekes.
“We will also be filing . . . a joint judicial review application versus the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Senator Dr Jerome Walcott) in relation to the certificate of CXC’s immunity he issued on June 7, 2021,” Weekes added.
She stressed that they were in the fight for the long run, and would be willing to go all the way to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) to get a final ruling.
“That is our final court of appeal. I suspect we may end up there whether the Barbados Court of Appeal finds in our favour or not. If they do find for us, I imagine the CXC would also appeal to the CCJ.”
Weekes said the case was an important one for justice in the Caribbean.
“The issues are significant enough that the highest court should pronounce on them,” the former president of the Barbados Bar Association said.
The students and worried parents had decided on legal action against CXC after getting no satisfaction from the regional body over their concerns about exam grading and in the subsequent grade review process after last year’s exams.
Weekes had filed on June 2, on behalf of the 60 students, an application for judicial review of
CXC, the Ministry of Education and the Attorney General under a certificate of urgency. That was heard on June 4 and a decision came on June 23.
Source: Nation
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