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The government of Antigua and Barbuda has confirmed that classroom hours lost during the ongoing teacher sit-in will be recovered, with options including an extended school year or reductions to the holiday calendar now under consideration.
Chief of Staff Lionel Hurst made the announcement during Thursday’s post-Cabinet media briefing, stating that while the situation is regrettable, existing education regulations require students to receive a minimum number of instructional hours annually.
“There are a certain number of hours that students must complete. When that target is not met, the system allows us to either lengthen the school year or reduce the number of holidays,” Hurst explained.
Hundreds of teachers across the country have been withholding instruction since May 2, in protest over delayed allowance payments.
Although the Ministry of Education has disbursed payments to the vast majority of educators, a small number—believed to be fewer than ten—remain unpaid due to complications with the Treasury’s FreeBalance financial management system.
The issue has sparked frustration among parents and concern about the potential academic impact on students, particularly those preparing for end-of-year assessments.
According to Hurst, the delays stemmed from technical glitches within FreeBalance, which rejected several payment vouchers and required departments to resubmit them for processing.
While the funds were reportedly available, the bureaucratic process resulted in some checks being withheld or delayed.
The Ministry of Education has since published a list of names of the teachers who remain unpaid and requested that they report directly to the Treasury to collect their checks.
Despite being present in classrooms, many of the protesting teachers have refused to teach, with some students reporting that lessons have been replaced by extended periods of silence or self-directed work.
Hurst, speaking as both a government official and a parent, expressed disappointment at the ongoing disruption.
“Our children are being used as pawns. The teachers are in the classrooms, but they’re not teaching. I don’t see the wisdom in that,” he said.
The government maintains that teachers are essential workers and are expected to give advance notice before industrial action, allowing the Ministry time to implement contingency plans. However, the scale of the sit-in has made this virtually impossible.
Asked how soon normal teaching could resume, Hurst said that rests with the union’s decision to lift the sit-in once all payments have been made.
“We’ve said the money is there, the checks are being written, and they will have them. But the union insists on 100 percent before returning to work.”
Officials have not yet released a revised school calendar, but Hurst assured that students will receive their full allocation of instructional time before the academic year ends.
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The whole of the Cabinet dunce?
Every day you hear of some stupid decision these clowns make. ANU is a circus or something?
That cabinet has yet to do anything right and come in like a bunch of pappy show doing the most.
They waste money on all kinds of nonsense but want the citizens to settle.
Why the mouth peice nuh go teach. Better yet send the cabinet to teach for a week with limited resources!
Mr Hursts, make it make sense. If the money is available and it just to write the checks. Was this communicated to the Teachers? If not, then that’s where the break down is. Cause for years I’ve been watching this space and only when actions are taken by the Teachers and further a field any group of Government employees something is done, a promise is made… it’s time we treat our citizens correctly. We are all human beings, we all have bills to pay and a livelihood to maintain.
Teachers have to prepare our kids for the future. In my opinion, they are the most valuable people in our society. Without them there are no future anything. No future doctors, lawyers, engineers, no future teachers, nothing. Yet they still have to be caregivers, councilors, assist with meals, and get their own supplies. And at the end of they day you’re making it difficult to pay these people?
First off, they are not and will never be paid enough to deal with about 25-30 different personalities every single school year. I know it would drive me crazy. Treat our teachers better. Lost learning time wa
As a parent, citizen, and human being, I find the government’s response deeply disappointing. Extending the school year or reducing holidays to make up for lost teaching time is not a solution—it’s a punishment to students and families for a situation they didn’t cause.
This disruption began because teachers were not paid. That’s the core issue. They are professionals, and like anyone else, they deserve to be compensated for their work—on time. Their refusal to teach is not a betrayal; it’s a protest born out of frustration, and it’s their right.
Blaming teachers and claiming they are “using children as pawns” is a poor deflection from the government’s own failure. The technical issues with the Treasury should have been addressed immediately and decisively. Instead, teachers are told to personally go to the Treasury to collect what is owed to them—how is that acceptable?
As a parent, I see the stress and confusion this has placed on my child. As a citizen, I see a system that is quick to discipline teachers and slow to support them. And as a human being, I ask: where is the compassion?
We don’t fix broken systems by making others suffer for them. Respect teachers, fix the problem at its root, and stop placing the burden on our children.
Sincerely,
A Concerned Parent
Seems like the government is the one being political to me. Mr. PM., get it straight. If the cheques were there and rhe teachers knew all along, why would they not go for their cheques. It is alleged that some teachers went for their cheques because their names are on the list and no cheque day and some cheques are outdated. If either is correct, what the hell! Is it warri we’re playing?
Teachers will see this for what it is….SPITE & VINDICTIVENESS. Government cannot unilaterally make such announcement and commit to extending the school year without the input of the teachers and other stake holders. Acting out of spite and malice will only exasperate the situation.. You cannot want a resolution if you keep fighting. Stop throwing punches!