Worrying teachers uniondecision

THE EDITOR: I have a child who will be writing exams next year and I am very worried to hear that teachers have been instructed by their union to stop marking SBAs (School-Based Assessment) from September if they are not compensated.

I did some research on the computer and found that no other Caribbean country pays teachers separately to mark the SBAs. This demand by the teachers’ union is unreasonable.

Our students will suffer if they are deliberately denied their grades for projects done for the CSEC and CAPE exams.

Marking the SBAs has been part of the duties of the teacher for many years now.

This call by the union is a backward step for the students because if SBA grades are held back by teachers, our students will not be able to apply to universities and other higher educational institutions and will also miss out on scholarships and other opportunities.

Teachers know the SBAs are not examinations set by someone from outside.

These assignments or projects are generally set and marked by the subject teacher, therefore all marking of SBAs forms part of the duties of that teacher.

I appeal to the teachers to let good sense prevail and do not hold back our children. It is the responsibility of the Caribbean Teachers Union to negotiate with CXC on this matter.

JAIRAM SINGH

Tunapuna