Teachers' unions raise concerns over school infrastructure and employment status

In Antigua and Barbuda, the Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers (A&BUT) has expressed mixed reactions to ongoing school construction. While President Casroy Charles welcomed improvements at the Antigua Grammar School and Clare Hall Secondary, he noted that several other institutions are still awaiting promised upgrades. Specifically, the union highlighted Ottos Comprehensive School, which has reportedly been awaiting a new wing for approximately a decade. Charles also raised concerns regarding inadequate parking facilities at Ottos Comprehensive, which cause difficulties for teachers during heavy rainfall.

In Barbados, the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) is opposing efforts to engage staff at Alma Parris Academy as independent contractors. President Rudy Lovell stated that such a move would be ‘unprecedented’ in the nation’s education sector, arguing that teachers are public servants governed by specific acts and guidelines rather than self-employed contractors. The dispute stems from staffing issues at the Speightstown school, where the union claims no established teaching posts were created despite the need for staff, leading to administrative instability and declining student numbers.