Transfer letters to 109 primary school teachers who were specially selected to join the Student Support Services Division by April 13 have been recalled by the Education Ministry, president of the T&T Unified Teachers Association, Davanand Sinanan, said yesterday.
“The ministry acknowledged that before they proceed with those transfers, there is the requirement in law for the ministry to consult with TTUTA on the matter, so we have a meeting scheduled for next Wednesday to discuss that particular issue,” Sinanan said outside the Ministry of Education, St Clair, following a two-and-a-half hour meeting with the permanent secretary and other senior officials.
Sinanan said the “routine” meeting was cordial and sought to address a number of outstanding issues but they could not complete the agenda and another meeting would be held on April 30.
However, the meeting scheduled for next Wednesday will specifically address the transfer of teachers to the recently-launched Special Needs Programme.
During a press conference last Friday, Sinanan said the 109 teachers were blindsided by the transfer letters as those selected had only recently received the letters.
He said neither the teachers nor their principals were consulted on the matter and the teachers never asked to be transferred to the programme which caters to the needs of children with learning disabilities.
Sinanan said it was only the Teaching Service Commission which was capable of transferring teachers and that right did not lie with the either the ministry or the Cabinet.
Anticipating that Wednesday’s meeting would be fruitful, Sinanan said: “We will sit down, express our concerns and see what the law provides for and understand what the ministry is trying to do.
“We want to reiterate that TTUTA has absolutely no problem and we commend the efforts of the authorities to improve the capacities of the Student Support Services Division because we are convinced that an enhanced service would redound to the benefits of the students.
“It will compliment the efforts of school officials in maintaining student behaviour and reduce the issues of school violence but there is a legal framework to guide that process and that is what we are adamant about.”