The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers’ Union says it is greatly concerned about “the failure” of the Ministry of Education and the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to provide basic supplies to schools in the country.
“The majority of schools are suffering because of the need for toilet paper, chalk and whiteboard markers and a number of other essential resources, including printing facilities,” the union said in a press release.
“The failure of the Government to meet these basic needs for the proper functioning of the nation’s schools is a manifestation of the value that is placed on education and the students who are the nation’s important future resource.
The SVGTU condemned “the tardiness of the relevant authorities for not meeting the basic needs of the schools in a timely manner.
“How can schools operate effectively without the necessary support that is so critical? This is weeks and yet no supplies. This is a total disgrace, especially when the Minister of Finance boasted of hundreds of thousands of dollars to be spent in the next six months in a recent address on television.”
The union was apparently referring to the comments by Minister of Finance Camillo Gonsalves at the launch of
Greater Youth Volunteerism and Engagement (GYVE) programme, intended to encourage young people to volunteer by paying them EC$55 a day when they work on community projects.
Speaking at the launch of the GYVE on Monday, Gonsalves said that the government will be giving out hundreds of thousands of dollars over the next six months.
“The SVGTU is admonishing the Ministry of Education and the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines to treat the nation’s children with respect and dignity. Please make the necessary supplies available to the nation’s schools to mitigate the potential for and loss of instructional time,” the union said.
the workers must speak out way de hospital lacking to? It is alleged dat the suppliers are not being paid and dem ah trust from de local pharmacy and dem too nar get dem money .