00:00According to the Association President, continued student absenteeism post-Carnival is of serious concern.
00:08Martin Lumpkin notes that while only around 20% of students came to school on Ash Wednesday, 81% of teachers showed up.
00:18He acknowledges that there are those who believe there should be no school for the rest of the week after the festivities.
00:24However, Lumpkin does not share that view.
00:27Teachers have always put out to our members to be there and to encourage the students.
00:33And so we have to find a way to get them out.
00:36I don't believe that at this time the solution is to have the rest of the week off or have Ash Wednesday off.
00:44Lumpkin warns that if children are encouraged to miss school on Ash Wednesday, when they become adults, they will continue the practice in their workplace.
00:54He also weighs in on the suggestion for professional development programs for teachers during this period where students prefer to stay at home.
01:03Yes, it can present an opportunity.
01:06I know years gone by, a number of schools would have applied for professional development courses to take place during this period.
01:16And I know the ministry quite recently would have discouraged it because for whatever particular reason.
01:24But it can be and maybe we can make up for it in, you know, adjust the two and look at, you know, getting, you know, getting back the 39th day, week, sorry.
01:39If we do close the school for this three days.
01:43On a separate issue, the tutor president notes the humid temperatures being experienced this dry season and its impact on pupils.
01:52He tells TV6 just last week, the association made a request to the ministry for systems to be put in place to remedy the situation.
02:02He says he understands fans may not be ideal and AC units will need maintenance to ensure they function properly, which may further increase costs.
02:13We also understand that increasing the load on the electricity system would also require that upgrades be made as well.
02:22So we are hopeful that the Ministry of Education can look at some mechanism, even if it is probably adjusting the times of school.
02:34You know that, you know, we consider some way of getting that issue addressed as early as possible.
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