THE EDITOR, Sir:
IF THE system of education is to get any better, the Ministry of Education must be an integral part. I am yet to understand how this Ministry can continue with the inefficiencies associated with paper pushing, and behave with disdain when they wrong the very persons whose interest they should be guarding.
Early this year my sister, a teacher at Ascott Primary, proceeded on maternity leave (which she assumed to be with pay), having submitted her application and supporting documents. In September, her 'bare subsistence' pay was docked, as 'she had applied for two months leave without pay'.
Although the clerk located the documents on her file (after previously insisting that no such documentation existed), and although promised the reimbursement in October's salary, her pay was again docked in October.
As a child of two retired teachers, with over 70 years' combined service, I am nothing short of furious. All my life I watched my parents cut and carve on meagre salaries without a complaint, but those days are over. Frankly, Minister Henry-Wilson, I must ask you to intervene. The Ministry has to show general care for its 'subjects', accept responsibility for erroneous actions and at least, make immediate amends. I ask you this, Madam Minister: Could you do without your salary for two months as she is being asked to do without hers? I don't think so.
Teachers have to pay their light bills, water bills, phone bills, feed their children, pay doctor bills, and many have to pay their mortgage and car loans too. As someone who has been there, PLEASE, don't make life any harder or try to balance the budget by giving to teachers with the right hand and retracting with the left.
I am, etc.,
CECILE McCORMACK
cecilemac@yahoo.com
