Protesting Antiguan teachers agree to return to work
Students in Antigua and Barbuda returned to their classrooms today after the Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers (ABUT) called off strike action.
ABUT informed the government that it was taking strike action from April 11 since union members are fed up with the inadequate facilities, lack of school security and their remuneration packages.
The government was forced to extend the Easter vacations because teachers refused to return on Monday.
A note from the cabinet said the government was happy that teachers were returning to the classroom. It applauded Minister of Education Daryll Matthew and the officials from the Ministry of Education and the Treasury for acting quickly to get teachers back on the job.
At today’s post-cabinet media briefing, Chief of Staff at the Prime Minister’s Office Lionel Hurst applauded the union for being reasonable in deliberations with the government.
“We are delighted that the youth of Antigua and Barbuda have been able to return to their classrooms and that learning is proceeding. In a couple of weeks, they will face the CXC examiners, and therefore we are eager to know that they are back before the teachers. Because we know there is a connection between the number of hours students spend with their teachers and good performance at the CXC exams,” he said.
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