Disappointed, would be an understatement for how I feel toward the representation that was given by the TTUTA 2nd Vice President Ms Kyrla Robertson during a phone interview on the Morning Brew on September 2 with Ms Hema Ramkissoon.
Ms Ramkissoon asked the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association representative if the organisation was happy with the work done by the Ministry of Education in preparation for the new school term to which she said “No”, fair enough.
What I took issue with, however, was her vehement refusal to acknowledge that with over 700 schools across Trinidad and Tobago and with less than one per cent having challenges with opening, Ms Robertson could not bring herself to state that the ministry was doing good work.
I agree with Ms Robertson that of course any school being down is an issue; however, can we please be realistic. In this economy, in this country, where we know the more than half-century age of many of our schools, is she really fighting the government to do the same works that in many instances have already been started? If this is the representation that our nation’s teachers have to look forward to then God help them!
I wish to congratulate the work of the ministry and both Ministers in Education who have been putting in the work to ensure that children in this country have access to education! I commend Ms Ramkissoon on her attempt at getting the union rep to see reason, and to Ms Robertson, simply do better, you failed in your representation of your union!
Over 190 projects undertaken, less than five schools with challenges and yet you cannot give credit where credit is due? Now I understand why people say “TTUTA’s only purpose is to tell teachers to walk off the job”.
Diego Martin, via email