Teachers’ impasse takes a twist

The High Court yesterday granted an order against the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) directing it to stay all disciplinary hearings against nine teachers of the Arima Senior Comprehensive School (ASC) until a judicial review proceeding is heard and determined.

The teachers were suspended by the TSC last December. Justice Mark Mohammed, sitting in the Fifth Civil Court, Port-of-Spain, gave the TT Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) and the teachers leave to seek judicial review, challenging the decision of TSC to lay disciplinary charges against the teachers. The Court also granted the teachers leave to challenge the failure of the TSC to act on numerous complaints against principal of ASC, Cheryl-Ann Wilkin-son. The teachers are alleging that the Commission was biased against them and acted unfairly and in bad faith. Speaking to the media outside the High Court yesterday, TTUTA President Trevor Oliver said the decision of the Court gives both parties a chance to “sit and talk.” He hoped that the matter could move forward with dialogue.

Two of the suspended teachers are union representatives and Oliver expressed concern that their absence would leave a void. “We want the suspension lifted so this can be resolved. It is not a question of nine teachers, but overwhelming support of staff shows if you don’t deal justly with nine teachers, you won’t have normalcy.” Attorney for the teachers, Anand Ramlogan, said the nine teachers had collectively 250 years’ teaching experience and continued suspension prejudiced their careers. The TSC had recommended arbitration to solve the problems between the teachers and the principal, but Ramlogan said the TSC “back peddled” and time had been wasted. He reminded that despite serving with distinction, eight armed police officers were sent to deliver the letters of suspension to “law-abiding citizens.”