00:00School open, first two weeks, children have been home.
00:03I contacted the school supervisor, Mr. Roachford,
00:07and I asked him concerning the issue.
00:10He told me that Monday, which is the last Monday gone,
00:15they're supposed to have a teacher.
00:16So within the Thursday, Friday, the teacher
00:18will be at the school.
00:20Monday, send off my granddaughter to school.
00:23No teacher.
00:24As of today, no teacher.
00:27Ms. Bacchus told the TV6 News, parents
00:30are now being told they may have to keep their children at home.
00:34Last night, next note come in on the chart
00:37stating that the children will have to stay home.
00:39I might be for two weeks until, which is ridiculous.
00:44Ms. Bacchus is calling on the relevant authorities,
00:47including the education division, to do better.
00:50My grandchild is home, not getting education.
00:52I'm trying my best at home, but I have to go to work.
00:56My daughter have to go to work.
00:57I am not saying the school is a kindergarten.
01:00I'm not saying the school is a daycare,
01:02but something has to be done.
01:05When contacted, Education Secretary Zerisha Hackett
01:08told the TV6 News that the Division of Education
01:11understands the concern regarding
01:13the absence of classes for the children in second year
01:17since the beginning of the new academic year.
01:19Secretary Hackett said the vacancy
01:22arose after a teacher requested a transfer, which
01:25the Service Commission approved effective September 2nd, 2024.
01:30In an effort to fill this position,
01:32DTEC reached out to recently retired teachers
01:36to have them hold on in the interim, but all declined.
01:40This week, the division received the Anglican Board's
01:43recommendation for a suitable candidate,
01:46an essential requirement for government-assisted schools
01:50to ensure compliance with the Concordat
01:52and is now in the process of submitting this recommendation
01:56to the Teaching Service Commission for approval.
01:59The division says it is committed to promptly resolving
02:03this matter along with the other instances of staff shortages
02:08at a few other schools to ensure that students receive
02:11the quality education they deserve.
02:14Elizabeth Williams, TV6 News.
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