00:00President of the National Primary School Principals Association, NAPSPA, Charlene Hayes, says
00:06principals have been operating for six months without business operation assistance, their BOAs,
00:13despite assurances just weeks ago that support would be reinstated.
00:18With the academic term nearing its end, she warns that the delay is placing added strain on the already stretched
00:27administrators.
00:28We had a meeting on the 26th of February, which was three weeks ago, with all different heads of the
00:35Ministry of Education, including the CEO.
00:37And we were assured that all was done and it was just awaiting cabinet approval.
00:43After that, the BOAs have been messaging me, they've been calling me.
00:46I have also sent them an advisory, letting them know very soon.
00:50We have hope. But unfortunately, that has not happened.
00:54Hayes also highlights growing frustration among principals who continue to carry the full responsibilities of the role without formal appointment.
01:03She says the situation is becoming increasingly unsustainable.
01:08And we've been asking why. And like I said, if you don't have a letter from Teaching and Service Commission
01:14stating that you are acting,
01:16you are now performing the duties of a principal.
01:20Same things you have to do, all the different data you must do, all the different emails you must respond
01:25to,
01:26but you are not being paid.
01:28Meanwhile, President of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association, Crystal Bevan-Ash, describes the situation as inequitable.
01:38All these duties are expected of our educators, of our senior educators.
01:43And then you want to tell them that you're not getting nothing for it.
01:46You're going home and, well, thank you for your service.
01:48That's not right. That's not right.
01:50And it would seem as if it is a growing trend.
01:52It is a trend by the Ministry of Education.
01:54It would seem not to want to hire personnel and put them in permanent positions,
01:59such that they would get the system.
02:00You can't want a system to work properly if you don't put the necessary things.
02:04He tells the Morning Edition, there are also ongoing funding challenges and a lack of basic supplies.
02:12Ash says educators are too often left to absorb costs that should be covered,
02:18deepening pressure across the system.
02:21Will they ever ask police officers to buy bullets for guns and things?
02:25No, they ain't going to do that because you're supposed to provide an admission, a show of security.
02:28No, it sounds funny, but you ask a teacher to buy their own marker, you ask them to do this.
02:32And then teachers, out of their own pockets, they would sometimes assist children
02:36because if you have a child who is hungry and in need and anything,
02:39you won't sit down and see a child.
02:40And we do that on a daily basis.
02:42Nicole M. Romany, TV6 News.
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