Attrition, motivation, retention ‘immediate and pressing concerns’
Attrition and retention of teachers are “immediate and pressing concerns” owing to the Department of Education’s inability to set up schools for effective operation, the sector’s representative body said.
Challenges related to infrastructure and pay were cited by the Bermuda Union of Teachers as evidence of the shortcomings.
The remarks came after Diallo Rabain, the Minister of Education, used World Teachers’ Day to highlight the need to focus on the staffing requirements of tomorrow’s schools.
He said last week: “While the Department of Education and its union partners are working together to curb attrition and enhance teacher motivation and retention, the Education Reform Unit has initiated work to better understand Bermuda’s future education workforce needs.
“It would be contradictory of us, as we focus on better preparing the future workforce for all sectors and industries across the country through Signature Learning Programmes, to not dedicate the same amount of energy and effort to our own workforce.”
A BUT spokesman said this week: “The minister, in acknowledging World Teachers' Day with its theme focused on addressing the teacher shortage, makes quite a fleeting acknowledgement of curbing attrition and enhancing teacher motivation and retention as if that was not a direct outcome of the failure of the DoE to ‘dedicate the same amount of energy and effort to our own workforce’ as is given to pontificating about reform.
“Despite the commendable efforts of our members in contributing to education reform, the inability of the DoE to establish conducive conditions for effective school operation — as evidenced by challenges related to building readiness, contracts, pay and more — has made attrition, motivation and retention immediate and pressing concerns.”
The Government was asked for comment in response to the remarks.
A spokeswoman said: “The minister's statement and sentiments expressed in his World Teacher's Day statement stand.”
In a letter to the media last month, the BUT said visits to schools as late as September 7 revealed that some classrooms were still undergoing renovation and were unsafe, and teacher contracts were delayed. The return date for government school pupils after their summer break was September 11.
The union added that there were last-minute curriculum and assessment delays, and that there were facilities issues including non-functioning bathrooms and “filthy” classrooms.
It also cited a “concerning trend” of teachers and students leaving the public education system because of continuing operational challenges.
Mr Rabain said then that it was important to note that the reform of primary schools had been “a mammoth task”.
The minister added at the beginning of the academic year: “Although we were not perfect in all aspects, all of our students were accommodated today and I want to thank everyone that helped to get this school year off to a good start.
“Along with education reform, we will review the readiness protocols and how information is provided by the Department of Education moving forward.
“The ministry will provide the support needed by the department to improve upon this process.”
It was later claimed by the BUT that its members endured “financial disruption” as a result of delayed or non-payment of wages.
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