Public school teachers stage sit-in over delayed appointment letters
ST. JOHN'S, Antigua- Teachers attached to several government schools across the country engaged in industrial action on Tuesday morning, staging a sit-in to protest the delayed issuance of their instruments of appointment. The move comes after years of back-and-forth discussions with education authorities, as teachers who were eligible for upgrades between 2017 and 2022 are yet to receive their official appointment letters.
According to the General Secretary of the Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers, Sharon Kelsick, members were instructed to participate in the sit-in starting at 9am on April 1, 2025. The union had previously informed the Ministry of Education that failure to complete the appointment process by 8:59am on April 1 would result in industrial action.
“Teachers from 2017 to 2022 who should have been upgraded by the end of 2024 were still awaiting their instruments of appointment as of last week Thursday,” she explained. “Letters started going out late Thursday and into Friday, but the process remains incomplete.”
Despite the industrial action, the union remains engaged in open dialogue with the Ministry of Education. Kelsick noted that while communication has been consistent, meeting deadlines has been an ongoing challenge for the ministry. To expedite the process, teachers are being called individually to collect their letters, with the union verifying that all qualified educators receive their documents.
“The ministry is aware that there are some anomalies on the list, and they are working to resolve them. We continue to communicate with them to ensure no eligible teacher is left out,” the general secretary stated.
The sit-in will continue until every teacher entitled to an appointment letter for the specified period has received an official documentation. Kelsick further stated that the union remains firm in its stance, ensuring that no educator is overlooked in the process.
Meanwhile Director of Education Clare Browne has acknowledged that the ongoing sit-in by government teachers stems from concerns over upgrades and promotions. He stated that the Ministry of Education is actively working to resolve the matter.
According to Browne, the ministry, through the office of the Permanent Secretary, is collaborating with the Establishment Division to finalize the process. He noted that several appointment letters were issued last Friday and Monday, with efforts continuing to ensure all outstanding cases are addressed.
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