<p>In response to the rallies that the BNTU has organized for tomorrow, Minister of Education, Patrick Faber, expressed concern via a press release issued out this morning. Faber told the media that the Union did not inform the ministry about the rally which, Faber says could have been held, on a non-school day.</p>
<p><b><i>HON. PATRICK FABER</i></b></p>
<p><b><i>“My position is that it is rather unfortunate; as our release states we really believe that because of course of a number of issues but especially because of the rains we lost valuable time in the classroom and I’m sure that teachers will agree to this and so for something like this to be the reason why they would call off school to me is really disappointing and unfortunate, I don’t see any reason. This is a personal view that I have had for so long, why these meetings or these rallies or whatsoever, in case we make the clear distinction that this is not a meeting, this is a rally, why can’t it be done on a Friday or a non-school day if it is they want to make a point and to demonstrate, if they really are wanting to show that concern for the students and for education system. So, I appeal to them like you’ve said they have indicated that it will go on and I know that my appeal won’t necessarily change their mind but I have to make that appeal not only on the part of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports but also on the behalf of the parents and of the managements and of the wider education stake holders for them to be reasonable and for them to understand that this is not a time that we can afford to be missing classes. If you notice it is not one event it is from what I have been able to learn, a series of events that are planned. So, this is a continuous distraction of classes in a time when we have already lost for a number of reasons especially because of the rain valuable instruction time in the class room. I don’t want to get into saying out there that there is a penalty. They have indicated in fact that it is an industrial action and of course there is a way to deal with that but I’m not going to go on the record to issue any threat. At this point in time, I will say that I and my ministry want to be as amicable as possible. We believe that the unions and its membership has a right to make its point and to even demonstrate but there is a responsible way of doing that and that is really where we take issue with what they are doing.” </i></b></p>
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<p><b><i>HON. PATRICK FABER</i></b></p>
<p><b><i>“My position is that it is rather unfortunate; as our release states we really believe that because of course of a number of issues but especially because of the rains we lost valuable time in the classroom and I’m sure that teachers will agree to this and so for something like this to be the reason why they would call off school to me is really disappointing and unfortunate, I don’t see any reason. This is a personal view that I have had for so long, why these meetings or these rallies or whatsoever, in case we make the clear distinction that this is not a meeting, this is a rally, why can’t it be done on a Friday or a non-school day if it is they want to make a point and to demonstrate, if they really are wanting to show that concern for the students and for education system. So, I appeal to them like you’ve said they have indicated that it will go on and I know that my appeal won’t necessarily change their mind but I have to make that appeal not only on the part of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports but also on the behalf of the parents and of the managements and of the wider education stake holders for them to be reasonable and for them to understand that this is not a time that we can afford to be missing classes. If you notice it is not one event it is from what I have been able to learn, a series of events that are planned. So, this is a continuous distraction of classes in a time when we have already lost for a number of reasons especially because of the rain valuable instruction time in the class room. I don’t want to get into saying out there that there is a penalty. They have indicated in fact that it is an industrial action and of course there is a way to deal with that but I’m not going to go on the record to issue any threat. At this point in time, I will say that I and my ministry want to be as amicable as possible. We believe that the unions and its membership has a right to make its point and to even demonstrate but there is a responsible way of doing that and that is really where we take issue with what they are doing.” </i></b></p>
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