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by pltm
(PLTM) - Some primary schools across Tortola have joined in the silent protest action against claims of neglect from the system for over 15 years.
While the number of schools that will be affected by the silent protest is unknown at this time, BVI Platinum News was informed by parents of the Willard Wheatley Primary School (WWPS) that the parents had been notified in advance.
The notification came in a group chat this morning, October 29, saying: “…majority of teachers at the WWPS are ill today. Please note that there will be no school for the students. Thank you.”
Similar reports are coming from the Althea Scatliffe Primary.
The school’s management issued a notice this morning to parents stating that: “We value the well-being of each student in our care and found it necessary to inform you that due to the high volume of absenteeism among our teachers, there will be no school today. We are truly sorry for the inconvenience caused.”
BVI Platinum also reached out to the BVI Teacher’s Union for an indication of the number of schools that would be affected, however up to publication time; they had not responded to our queries.
This silent protest action started on Wednesday and Thursday by teachers of the Elmore Stoutt High School. Teachers say they are fed-up, and staging the protest was their way of expressing their frustration.
Fix it
Meanwhile, former Minister of Education Myron Walwyn urged the authorities to fix the problem.
He said in a social media post that the students had lost enough face to face instructions already due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said: “Our students have lost a great deal of instructional time and other school-related benefits over the past 20 months or so due to COVID. Our teachers have had to balance educating our children in a less than ideal situation while at the same time having to care for themselves and their families.”
He continued: “Whatever the problem is, I urge the policymakers to get it under control as soon as possible. This situation left unabated, will spill over into the work environment and further affect productivity in the territory and ultimately further deteriorate an already ailing economy.”
While Premier and Minister for Finance said, he hopes that the Ministry of Education and the teachers would find middle ground, the Education Minister Hon. Natalio Wheatley is yet to publicly address the issue that appears to be expanding.
