Schools shut down today?

WHILE the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) is predicting a total shut down of the nation’s education system today, Education Ministry officials are cautiously optimistic that not all teachers would heed the union’s call to stay away from classes as part of a day of “rest and relaxation.”
 
Union sources reiterated their prediction of a massive disruption of classes across the country today as a signal to Government that teachers are prepared to give the nation’s students an early vacation if their demands for increased wages are not met. The sources added the levels of support from teachers during last week’s “Red Day” indicate that teachers are on board with TTUTA’s plans. Teachers and the Chief Personnel Officer are supposed to meet on Wednesday. Ministry sources said they are putting contingency plans in place to ensure there are no hiccups in the school system. They were hopeful that the majority of teachers will turn out for classes as usual.