Teachers Salaries to Be Reviewed
By Pauline Waruguru
Nevis Reporter - SKNVibes.com
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{Charlestown, Nevis: Friday, October 26} Teachers’ salaries will be reviewed next year, the Premier of Nevis, Hon. Joseph Parry, who is also the Minister of Education, told teachers last Friday.
“By May of next year there will be a review of salaries. You have done a great job. I am there for you,” he said. He was speaking at this year’s Professional Teachers’ Day held at the Four Seasons Resort. The Premier spoke shortly after a teachers’ choir had requested double salary through a song. The Professional Day was part of the series of activities held to celebrate Teachers’ Month.
Fellow teachers cheered them as they sang the various verses of the song. The Premier said that the teachers deserved the best but explained that current International Monetary Fund (IMF) conditionality had forced the Federation to result to stringent fiscal strategies that could not allow him to make any promise about double pay.
Although the Premier was non-committal in regards to the passionate request of a double pay, he told Nevis Teachers’ Union ~~Adz:Right~~(NTU) to provide him with a list of certain incentives that the government would look at to see how teachers could be appreciated. “I have been a teacher…I understand the need of a double salary.”
Already in place he said was college education for teachers locally and overseas. Premier Parry also told the teachers they could benefit from the civil servants housing scheme through the Social Security loan, which is being administered by the Credit Union.
He told the teachers to speak out, “We tend to hold secrets. Nobody can hurt you as long as you have a strong mind.” The Premier called on the teachers to put the welfare of the children first but following up children who had special needs.
Hon. Parry called on the teachers to support the homework assistance programme that was reported successful in various centres. He also said the teachers now have access to textbooks that could help them broaden their reading. He also said that the government was seeking ways to replace all computers in all the primary schools, “the computer is a factor for success.”
He further told the teachers to support the mentorship programme that is newly introduced, “Not everybody sees positive images of a father figure.” He said the presence of a father figure creates a psychological balance for the child.
Premier Parry commended this year’s honouree, Conrad Liburd for his commitment over the years to the development of education in Nevis. Liburd is a former Principal of the Gingerland Secondary School (GSS).
Reverend Sylvester Herbert, District Superintendent of the Wesleyan Holiness Churches, St. Kitts District, delivered this year’s Professional Teachers Day Feature address.
Rev. Herbert expounded on the theme chosen for this year’s Teachers Professional Day, “Raising the Standard: Empowering Teachers for Quality Performance”. He told the teachers the raising of the standard of education was closely linked with empowerment of teachers, “The raising of educational standards becomes possible and viable only to the extent that teachers are empowered.”
“Teaching, then, is about producing functional citizens, that is, people who can be properly integrated into the social and economic life of our nation and can therefore contribute in some positive way to overall national development.”
He called on teachers to continually embrace training programmes and said the education programme should encourage non-trained teachers to become trained and called on those who are already trained to continually upgrade themselves.
He told the teachers to adapt a professional attitude, “there is need for behavioural change that reflects more the realities of twenty-first century life. Teachers should make things happen, and not just wait for things to happen….more of our local teachers need to be writing and publishing especially those who have both the training and the experience which qualify them to do so.”
“Economics and Race in Caribbean Life, historian Alvin Thompson laments that Caribbean people often regard the efforts of their local artists and writers ‘as being inferior until they receive the signet of approval and the accompanying insignia from Europe and America.”
“Further, teachers should make greater use of the media like the television (Channel 8) to present programs that can help students improve their reading skills, develop a love for literature, or grow in their understanding of basic subjects taught at school.”
He called on teachers to join the teachers union, “through the active support and full participation of teachers coming together, proposals can be advanced for the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of our education system.
Rev. Herbert reflected on the “unforgettable” period in South African history when the doors of development and success seemed forever shut to the black majority of the nation. “After many years of blood, sweat, and tears those doors swung open. Nelson Mandela was the man who led in the struggle against apartheid.”
Mandela wrote: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
“Believing that standards could be raised, he committed himself to changing this world. May the spirit of Mandela live on in you.”?
Earlier Jennifer Hodge, the Chief Education Officer, had told the teachers that OECS had initiated certain educational reforms and commended teacher for Nevis’s success in adjusting to the reforms.
She called on the society to appreciate teachers, “teachers efforts go unnoticed by parents, teachers and the community and politicians.”
After the formal programme, teachers were treated to a luncheon at the Four Seasons Resort. The 23rd Annual Professional Day was organised by the Department of Education in collaboration with The Nevis Teachers’ Union.
Photos capture the Teachers Professional Day in Nevis which was celebrated on Friday, October 26 at the Four Seasons Resort. After the formal programme, teachers had lunch at the resort.
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