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Nedburn Thaffe, Gleaner Writer
President of the National Parent-Teacher Association of Jamaica (NPTAJ), Miranda Sutherland, has advised parents to keep their children at home in the wake of Education Minister Andrew Holness' warning that safety could not be guaranteed for students who turn out for classes today and tomorrow.
Holness said during an emergency press conference on Saturday that his ministry was not actively promoting any alternative for supervision of students during the planned strike by public-school teachers. He, however, implored students sitting examinations to go to school.
"We are advising parents to take the matter seriously," Sutherland said.
In the meantime, the NPTAJ president stressed the need for adequate supervision to be put in place for children who will remain at home during the two-day strike.
Sutherland, while labelling the industrial action by teachers as "unfortunate", said it was disappointing that the education sector had been brought to tipping point because of the failure of the Government and the Jamaica Teachers' Association to come to an amicable agreement over wage negotiation issues.
"We realise that their hands have been stretched but we appeal to the Government to make good sense prevail," she said.
The Government has referred the salary row to the Ministry of Labour for its intervention.
Sutherland also implored students - particularly those sitting exams - "not to get caught up in the affairs of the teachers".
During Saturday's press con-ference, the ministry stressed that the strike should not significantly disrupt the sitting of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination tests.
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/2...ead/lead9.html
President of the National Parent-Teacher Association of Jamaica (NPTAJ), Miranda Sutherland, has advised parents to keep their children at home in the wake of Education Minister Andrew Holness' warning that safety could not be guaranteed for students who turn out for classes today and tomorrow.
Holness said during an emergency press conference on Saturday that his ministry was not actively promoting any alternative for supervision of students during the planned strike by public-school teachers. He, however, implored students sitting examinations to go to school.
"We are advising parents to take the matter seriously," Sutherland said.
In the meantime, the NPTAJ president stressed the need for adequate supervision to be put in place for children who will remain at home during the two-day strike.
Sutherland, while labelling the industrial action by teachers as "unfortunate", said it was disappointing that the education sector had been brought to tipping point because of the failure of the Government and the Jamaica Teachers' Association to come to an amicable agreement over wage negotiation issues.
"We realise that their hands have been stretched but we appeal to the Government to make good sense prevail," she said.
The Government has referred the salary row to the Ministry of Labour for its intervention.
Sutherland also implored students - particularly those sitting exams - "not to get caught up in the affairs of the teachers".
During Saturday's press con-ference, the ministry stressed that the strike should not significantly disrupt the sitting of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination tests.
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/2...ead/lead9.html