The Ministry of Education is seeking to clarify the circumstances surrounding the recent dispute over unpaid allowances to teachers, an issue that led to a week-long industrial action, significantly disrupting operations at government-run schools across the country.
Speaking on State Television on Monday, Minister of Education Daryll Matthew said that the situation was marred by widespread miscommunication, misunderstanding, and misrepresentation of key facts.
He sought to assure the public that a comprehensive account of the events that led to the teachers’ sit-in will soon be made available.
“Some time over the next week or so, the Ministry will present a very clear synopsis of what took place,” Matthew stated.
“Many may ask why this is being done now, and I’ll explain. In my experience spanning some 30 years in public service, public servants often shy away from engaging with the public, even when their position is correct. They avoid documenting or explaining circumstances, sometimes to their own detriment,” he added.
He emphasized that this lack of public engagement has often led to a one-sided narrative taking hold, resulting in a skewed or inaccurate understanding of the facts.
“To allow only one side to be heard distorts the reality of what has truly transpired,” Matthew added. “This forthcoming overview will help the public understand how the situation escalated to the point of industrial action.”
Despite the recent sit-in, the Minister expressed satisfaction with the return to normalcy, noting that teachers are now back in the classrooms and students are actively engaged in learning as they prepare for their end-of-year exams.
