Teachers Union On Staffing, Management, More
“It’s time for the Department to prioritize our teachers’ well-being and the quality of education for our students,” the Bermuda Union of Teachers said, adding that “our children deserve a classroom that’s staffed, safe, and ready to learn.”
The comments from the Union follow after CedarBridge Academy was closed for a day earlier this week “due to an unusually high number of teacher and para-educator absences,” with 59 of CedarBridge’s 77 staff members reporting as absent.
In a series of posts on X/Twitter, the Union said, “Schools across Bermuda are facing significant operational challenges that directly impact our children’s education. These aren’t isolated incidents; mismanagement is rampant, and it’s time we shed light on it.
Schools across Bermuda are facing significant operational challenges that directly impact our children’s education. These aren’t isolated incidents; mismanagement is rampant, and it’s time we shed light on it. #BermudaEducation #EduReform #MIMS #MakeItMakeSense
— Bermuda Union of Teachers (@BUTBermuda) October 31, 2024
“Reports from the Ministry of Education misrepresent the real conditions. Ignoring or downplaying issues like substitute coverage, contract instability, and lack of resources doesn’t make them disappear; it makes them worse.
“Why is it nearly November, and classrooms across Bermuda are still without full-time teachers? Educators are working without contracts or compensation. We need urgent solutions from the DoE to provide students with consistent, qualified teachers.
“Mold and other safety and health concerns persist in our schools. Our children and teachers deserve clean, safe spaces for teaching and learning. These hazards have no place in Bermuda’s classrooms.
“Why is it so hard to get consistent action instead of quick fixes? It’s time to prioritize people, not policies.
“Let’s be clear: when the Minister closes a school, it’s due to the Department’s poor management. We should have enough substitute teachers to prevent this. There are enough educators on island, but applicants are often told, “the sub-list is full” or given the runaround.
“Imagine being dissuaded from taking a sick day due to administrative pressure. Some teachers come to school unwell for their students, often without lunch or bathroom breaks, all because of a lack of substitute coverage.
“These staffing issues stem from decisions made without proper consultation with the Union. It’s time for the Department to prioritize our teachers’ well-being and the quality of education for our students.
“Policies that disenfranchise teachers and students only widen the cracks in our system. Our children deserve a classroom that’s staffed, safe, and ready to learn.”
