Bishops/Trinity East to reopen in September as status remains unresolved

THE Bishop Anstey/Trinity College East (BATCE) schools will continue to operate as they are, said the Bishop Anstey Association (BAA) in a brief staff update dated August 7.

However, governmental remarks suggest the schools’ situation remains unresolved.

Staff, pupils and parents had been under much angst over recent negotiations with the Ministry of Education to shift the school’s status from private to government-assisted, with teachers telling Newsday of their fear for their job tenure and terms and conditions of employment (including salary, vacation entitlement and retirement arrangements.)

Some feared they would lose their jobs or be compelled to upgrade their qualifications to match the levels set down by the Teaching Service Commission (TSC.) They complained of allegedly being kept in the dark during negotiations. The statement said BAA and the schools board wished to give an update after a July 24 meeting with unnamed Government representatives.

“At the meeting, it was communicated that the intention of the Government of TT is to continue to support our existing school-based management model.

“Funding arrangements have been put in place for the operations of the schools.

“Our school will reopen as scheduled on September 2, God willing.”

The statement said the BAA and board were committed to work in partnership with stakeholders to build on the platform established for a sustainable future for BATCE and its contribution to national and social development. The statement was signed by Murchison Brown, former mayor of Port of Spain, as patron.

Newsday sought further details from Brown.

Asked about the nature of the Government’s commitment (such as if given in writing), he merely said, “We are satisfied with it.”

Asked about the recent meeting, Brown said the BAA had met with four government ministers.

Newsday asked Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly about the Government’s purported support for BATCE’s existing school based model, asking exactly what commitment was made, by whom, and for how long to last.

The minister replied via WhatsApp, “We are currently in discussions about this.

“No firm decision has yet been taken. The operations of the school remain unaffected by these discussions.”

Newsday asked if the school would reopen. She replied, “Yes.”

Asked if there had ever been any threat to the school’s reopening, she replied, “There was no threat to reopening that the Ministry of Education was aware of.”

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