BUT criticises Ministry of Education for failing to meet directly with teachers on proposed reforms
The Bermuda Union of Teachers (BUT) is deeply concerned by the Ministry of Education’s continued lack of meaningful consultation with teachers regarding recent education reform proposals.
Following a meeting held yesterday with the Premier, it has become clear to the BUT that the Minister of Education does not intend to engage in direct consultation with teachers on matters that directly affect their professional practice and working conditions. The Union strongly reiterates that consultation is not optional – it is a fundamental obligation clearly outlined in the BUT’s governing documents and long-standing industrial relations principles.
Consulting with school principals, while important, does not constitute consultation with teachers. Teachers are the professionals working daily in classrooms, and their voices must be heard directly, not filtered through management structures. Meaningful consultation requires open dialogue with teachers themselves, through their duly recognized representative body.
The BUT is particularly concerned that the Ministry of Education has failed to respond to requests from the Union and from parish primary schools seeking the opportunity to provide feedback on the reform proposals circulated during the week of January 19th. Now, more than three weeks later, teachers have received no formal response, or indication of when, or if, such engagement
will occur.
We are also disappointed to learn that the Minister has indicated she will not respond directly to teachers, advising instead that teachers should communicate through their line managers. This position has contributed to widespread confusion and frustration across the system. At a time of significant proposed change, the Minister and her team should be taking every opportunity to meet
directly with teachers and other affected groups to clarify intentions, listen to concerns, and build trust.
The lack of consultation – both prior to the release of the proposals and in the weeks following – undermines confidence in the reform process and disregards the professional expertise of teachers. Education reform cannot succeed without the active involvement of those who deliver instruction to this country’s students every day.
The Bermuda Union of Teachers once again calls on the Ministry of Education to honour its obligation to consult, to engage directly with teachers in a timely and transparent manner, and to ensure that any proposed reforms are informed by those with firsthand classroom experience. We do not believe that this is too much to ask.
