Five of seven of the members of the new Teaching Service Commission (TSC) were yesterday sworn in by President Irfaan Ali, who said the Commission is not subject to any political directives in the execution of its functions.
The members who took their oath of office and were given their instruments of appointment are Maydha Persaud, Doodmattie Singh, Joan Ann David-Monkhouse, Shafiran Bhajan and Mohammed Saddam Hussain.
The two other nominated members, Avril Crawford and Sattie Jaiserrisingh were absent from yesterday’s swearing in ceremony which took place at the Office of the President. They are expected to be sworn in at a later date.
The commission will function for three years. A Chairman and Deputy Chairman for the commission will be elected by the Commissioners at their first meeting.
The TSC is responsible for appointing, promoting and disciplining teachers.
The appointments came close to two years after the term of the previous Commission expired. The last TSC was appointed back in February 2018.
Since taking office, there have been delays by the Government in making key constitutional appointments.
Yesterday’s swearing in ceremony commenced one hour and a half late. No reason for the delay was provided.
During brief remarks yesterday, Ali said teachers are the “backbone” of the education system as they are responsible for moulding the minds of the nation’s children and preparing them for varied roles in society.
“Teachers, therefore, are not only indispensable but vital to the fashioning of responsible citizenship,” he said.
According to Ali, it is necessary that “great” care and attention are taken when making appointments to the teaching profession. “Placing ill qualified and ill-suited persons to educate our children can be disastrous to our children’s future and the human resource development of the country,” he said.
Ali admonished the Commissioners that appointments and promotions must be “fair” and “just”. He said: “If our children are to benefit from a high quality education, then such appointments and promotions must be based on merit and avoid favouritism, cronyism or nepotism”.
He added that disciplinary actions against teachers must be “fair and in conformity with due process”.
He further noted that in exercise of its function, the TSC is not subject to political directives. “The establishment of the Teaching Service Commission was intended to insulate appointments, promotions and disciplining of teachers from any interference of influence,” he said.
He stated that the functions of the TSC must therefore not be taken “lightly”.
“I encourage you to be faithful to that oath. Your actions will contribute to no small measure in ensuring that the teaching profession is populated by persons who are worthy of educating the present and future generation,” Ali urged the new members of the TSC.
