NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – The Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) has given the government until Wednesday to complete its investigations, reiterating its position that a group of recently employed Cuban teachers cannot speak English.
“Although the Ministry of Education has denied the concern that the Bahamas Union of Teachers has about the recently hired Cuban teachers, who are unable to speak English fluently or clearly, I stand by my position; I have received the information from teachers and students throughout The Bahamas, at the schools where they have been assigned,” said BUT President Belinda Wilson.
“So, I’ve written to the Ministry of Education, again, I’ve given them until Wednesday to complete their investigation and to decide what it is that they’re going to do about the Cuban teachers who are unable to speak English because what happens is it negatively impacts our students and their learning process,” she said in a recording.
Last week, the government dismissed the BUT claims, saying, “It was unfortunate that the BUT could not send a representative for the interview panel.
“The teachers recruited are the result of a memorandum of understanding signed by the ministry and the Republic of Cuba, which has, over the last 20 years, allowed the church to meet deficits in specialized areas.
“The panel was satisfied that the teachers are highly qualified and have competency in English,” the Ministry of Education said in a statement, noting that the teachers were recruited due to a scrutiny process involving seasoned public servants from several ministries and agencies.
“We are pleased that this year, the ministry has been able to deploy technical and vocational teachers, allowing equitable access to these studies nationwide. The church has bolstered the complement of special education teachers who have also been deployed nationwide to ensure no child is left out.
“We are confident, based on previous years and in light of the enhanced student access, and with the collaboration of all stakeholders, including the BUT, that these teachers will play an invaluable role alongside all of our other teachers in the educational well-being of our nation’s children,” it added.
But Wilson recalled when a group of Cuban teachers had to be sent home several years ago because of similar issues.
“If they are here to complement our educational system, then definitely English – the speaking of English – must be the first primary tenant of their employment, so I await until Wednesday for the Ministry of Education to respond to me on the investigation that I’ve asked them to conduct, and I also say that I do have names of the teachers and the schools and the subject that they are here to teach.
““I don’t want to go public with that information, so I impress upon the Ministry of Education to ensure
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