Education Ministry implements contingency plan as the matter heads to tribunal
The Department of Education has issued a contingency plan to ensure that classes can resume at Sandys Secondary Middle School after a two-day teacher sickout forced the campus to close.
The Ministry of Education and the school’s Board of Governors have been in discussions with the Bermuda Union of Teachers to resolve the issues that led to the action.
According to a government spokesperson, the matter was escalated to the Ministry of Labour for mediation and will now proceed to a tribunal.
Acting Minister of Education Crystal Caesar said parents were informed of yesterday’s closure via the Schoology platform after the principal received notice that teachers would not be reporting to work for a second consecutive day.
Minister Caesar, added: “This morning, some teachers have reported to work. To mitigate the lack of teaching staff and ensure learning and instruction are in place, the Department of Education has established a contingency plan to support SSMS with the support of the Department of Education officers and certified teachers. The classes have resumed.”
She emphasised that the well-being of students and staff remains a top priority and assured parents that the government is committed to rebuilding trust within the school community.
“We sincerely appreciate the patience and understanding of parents and students during this time and will keep all stakeholders informed as new developments arise,” said Minister Caesar.
