TTUTA writes Garcia on marking of SBAs

UPDATE:

THE TT Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) is holding firm to its position that its teachers will not be marking school-based assessments (SBAs) for Forms Five and Upper Sixth students come September, unless they are compensated for doing so.

This is outlined in a letter dated July 2 from the association president Lynsley Doodhai to Education Minister Anthony Garcia. In the letter Doodhai affirmed this is not in the job description for teachers and said it had advised its members accordingly.

He said it is time teachers are treated fairly and equitably and for the exploitation of them to cease. Doodhai slammed Garcia for not consulting the union, but said it was still willing to discuss the issue and prepared to take this matter to its natural end.

“The association is aware that on May 11, 2018, you (Garcia) convened a meeting regarding compensation for the marking of SBAs with certain representatives of the MOE and other stakeholders within the education system. We note with concern, the deliberate omission of the association, the sole representative body of the teachers, from discussions of this nature,” Doodhai wrote.

He said it was particularly unfortunate that the association had to learn of the minister’s intention to seek legal advice on the way forward from the media, rather than the minister.

“This recent episode is symptomatic of the MOE’s approach in treating with the increasingly onerous demands made of our teachers by the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC). The MOE has refused to consult with those engaged in the preparation of our students for CSEC and CAPE examinations and has facilitated repeated and substantial changes to the requisite syllabi.”

Doodhai said although TTUTA was excluded from consultation on the effect these continued additions to teachers’ workload could have, its members have gone beyond their contractual obligations and facilitated the completion and marking of these assessments in the last year, in the interest of their charges.

However, he said, “We can no longer afford to so do, due to the impact of these demands on our teaching time and the egregious encroachment on our non-working hours.”

Doodhai said teachers were offended that repeated calls for review of this model have gone unanswered.

“The job descriptions of teachers provide only for the internal assessment of students, in the performance of their duties. We have advised our members at the secondary level, that they ought not to mark SBAs from September 2018, unless they voluntarily wish to so do, and for fair remuneration for same.”

Doodhai said the association would make itself available to Garcia to ventilate this issue, but cautioned,

“We shall robustly support our members in our thrust for fair and equitable treatment.”

ORIGINAL STORY:

THE TT Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) is holding firm to its position that its teachers will not be marking School Based Assessment (SBA’s) for Forms Five and Upper Six students come September, unless they are compensated for doing so.

This is outlined in a letter dated July 2, the association president Lynsley Doodhai dispatched to Education Minister Anthony Garcia. In the letter Doodhai affirmed this is not in the job description for teachers and advised its members accordingly.

He said it is time teachers are treated fairly and equitably and for the exploitation against them to cease. Doodhai slammed Garcia for the lack of consultation with the union on the controversial issue but affirmed its willingness to dialogue as it is prepared to take this matter to its natural end.

“The Association is aware that on May 11, 2018, you (Garcia) convened a meeting regarding compensation for the marking of SBA’s with certain representatives of the MOE and other stakeholders within the education system. We note with concern, the deliberate omission of the association, the sole representative body of the teachers, from discussions of this nature,” Doodhai wrote.

He also noted that it is particularly unfortunate that the association had to learn of the Minister’s intention to seek legal advice on the way forward from the media, rather than the minister.