Vice President (VP) Bharrat Jagdeo announced on Thursday that the government is exploring the options of e-schooling and a voucher system to allow parents to enroll their children in private schools, to ensure that they receive a quality education.
The announcement of these alternative models comes as teachers continue with their industrial action for better wages.
During his weekly press conference on Thursday at the Office of the President, Jagdeo explained that the e-school system would allow parents to choose between physical and online schooling.
“We’re starting to work on several models, this e-school model… maybe in the future if we have a proper e-school model, then parents can choose that rather than physical school… and we shall present it as an option to the parents of this country. Secondly, we have to, in the future, examine whether we will give parents a voucher to send their children to private school or not. Because if we’re spending $700,000 now per child, and it costs 300,000 to pay for the school fees for the child, we might as well give, in some areas, the parents $700,000 per child, and then let them pay for the school,” he said.
The VP further noted that the government is also exploring ways to improve teacher performance and accountability. On this note, he highlighted that 30% of teachers were absent from school before the strike, and that not all teachers are committed to their duties.
“We have like 14,000 teachers, and even before the strike only 70% were going to school so on every given day had about 4000 teachers who were not teaching… So you have to look at that… teachers do have to bear more responsibility in the future,” he said.
The VP also emphasized that the government will not pay striking teachers and that they will have to return to work. Additionally, he touched on the notion of disallowing teachers in the classroom with just a few CSEC subjects.
“Thirdly, we are not going to compromise on this issue… You can’t be teaching our children anymore with two subjects CXC. In the past we may have accommodated that… we will provide you an opportunity to upgrade. We are going to pay for your scholarship, but you have to study if you’re in the environment because you want better quality teachers. So that will have to happen in the future,” Jagdeo stated.
The Vice President also took a strong stance on the issue of deduction of pay from strikers, which was ruled unconstitutional by the court. Jagdeo believes that the ruling was absurd and that it will be overturned. He emphasized that not all teachers are entitled to strike pay and that only those who have been victimized by the government’s policies should be compensated.
Jagdeo reiterated the government’s stance as pertains to GTU’s leadership, particularly that of General Secretary Coretta McDonald, who is also a member of parliament. Jagdeo accused McDonald of politicizing the strike and using it as a means to gain political advantage.
“Once Coretta McDonald is there, you’re not gonna have a resolution to this matter,” he said. McDonald has rejected similar charges by the government in the past.
