Substitute teacher for St Theresa’s

The assurance was given yesterday by a school supervisor who met with some of the concerned parents at the Education District office at Jerningham Avenue, Belmont. One parent told Newsday that the supervisor assured that the matter would be thoroughly investigated in the interim, and if necessary a replacement teacher would be provided for the students next term. Another parent, Lydia John-McLeod, told Newsday the 17 students in the class at the Petra Street, Woodbrook school have been affected for too long, and it was about time that the Ministry of Education did something. She explained that the teacher was absent for most of the days of the week, and most of the term.

She said usually in the absence of the teacher, the children would remain unsupervised or another class teacher would assist in giving the children instructions. Parents were told that the teacher was ill.

The concerned parents were upset that their children, who are writing the SEA exams next March, were not being taught, and they sent a letter to the ministry informing them of their concerns. They were subsequently told that the class teacher had indicated that the children were slow, and it was confirmed by an assessment. However, parents claim their children never got an assessment to prove they were slow.

Totally frustrated with the matter, some parents went to the ministry’s St Clair office on Wednesday to meet with officials and discuss the matter. They were successful in getting a meeting yesterday, and the assurance of a substitute teacher was given.

John-McLeod said she hoped the ministry would keep its word, as "it is a critical time for the children, especially since they have already wasted a whole year."

"I also hope it is not a teacher in a supervisory role, but one who would have a hands-on approach actually teaching the children," she said