SCHOOLS LACK GUIDANCE

Counsellors who prefer to remain anonymous told Newsday, Wednesday, government had failed to honour their part of an agreement made between the Chief Personnel Officer and Public Services Association in October 2003 to pay them a monthly communications allowance to cover mobile phone expenses. One male counsellor who works at a primary school in East Trinidad said the management of the Student Support Services Division (SSSD), Ministry of Education was “just making promises and excuses and not paying us our entitlements.”

The counsellors claim, after the negotiations were done on their behalf, officers in other positions and contract officers all received the said allowance and continue to be paid on a monthly basis.

Another guidance counsellor told Newsday she believes the SSSD was “insulting the intelligence of guidance counsellors in public schools.” She further stated that guidance counsellors are “disappointed and upset” that the ministry has not heeded their repeated calls for payment. An official from the SSSD told Newsday the division was currently in the process of obtaining important information from all guidance counsellors. She said the delay was caused by the tardiness of some guidance counsellors in submitting their documents, especially the new officers. The official, however, confirmed that the allowances, in addition to the arrears, should be paid before the end of the year.