Teachers to participate in historic March
Basseterre, St.Kitts (PAM Secretariat November 19th 2012):-Leader of the People’s Action Movement the Hon. Shawn K. Richards is expressing outrage at the conditions at the federation’s largest educational institution the Basseterre High School and the series of events that has led to the apparent strike action being taken by Teachers at the school.
Richards said “The situation at the Basseterre High School is symptomatic of the dire situation our country finds itself in at the moment. Due to years of fiscal irresponsibility and gross mismanagement , the government is so strangled by a debt they created that they cannot properly resource our schools and train and educate our children. It is totally unacceptable that after one year the government has done nothing to address this very serious situation. I express my full support for our Teachers and their stance and I call on the government to expeditiously address the situation and as a result return our teachers and students to a safe and secure learning environment."
BHS students did not attend classes today and teachers are on strike. The teachers and students are protesting against toxic, possibly life threatening contaminants in the school lab. Teachers and students have complained for over a year to the ministries of health and education to address the situation. Neither government departments have addressed the issue. In the meantime students have been complaining of various sudden ailments, particularly respitory.
In a release issued today by the Teachers Union it stated:
“The teachers of the Basseterre High School have recorded their extreme distress, frustration and disgust with the apparent inaction, neglect, disregard and painfully slow reaction to the worrisome situation regarding the Science labs at the school. After an entire year of numerous verbal and written reports from the School's Management to the Ministry of Education, and also meetings with staff by the Ministry, to date no meaningful action has been taken.
The staff is of the opinion that this situation of possible Chemical Contamination endangers their health and that of the student populace of the school. Within the last year, an increase number of teachers and students have been diagnosed with illnesses associated to the environmental conditions that exist in the school. Teachers and students have reported many symptoms such as: face and eye burning sensation, itchy throat and skin, upper respiratory issues, skin discoloration and abrasions, vertigo/dizziness……”
The Hon. Shawn K. Richards spoke with some Members of the teachers union and teachers at the Basseterre High and they expressed to him their grave concern regarding the situation at the school and their health. Mr. Richards expressed his support and vowed to do what he can to implore and bring pressure to the government to address the situation.
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