BEMU Strike Forces Early Public School Dismissal Nationwide

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – From about 9:30AM this morning, young students were already being turned away at T.G. Glover Primary School as they arrived at the gates.

It was a similar scene at C.H. Reeves Junior High School.

When we arrived, students were already walking out of the gates, while others were being picked up by their parents.

Over at S.C. McPherson Junior High School, students gathered outside in the school yard, waiting for their parents to come for them.

It was the same story in Grand Bahama, schools like St. George’s High School became a ghost town, after administration didn’t report to work on that island as well.

Social media posts also showed similar scenes at other schools across the island, with students being sent home early.

So, what was behind the disruption?

The Bahamas Educators Managerial Union (BEMU) carried out planned industrial action today, the latest development in a months-long dispute over unresolved issues, including administrative vacancies.

Union President Stephen McPhee addressed the issue at a press conference this morning.

The Union says dozens of principals are needed at schools across the major islands, including New Providence, Grand Bahama, Abaco, Eleuthera, Exuma, Bimini and the South Central Bahamas.

However, it’s not just principal positions that are vacant, there are also openings for district officers, critical technical officers and education officers.

McPhee says there’s been poor communication with Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Chester Cooper, noting that the Union was initially told the minister would not be available to meet until September 14th.

Despite this, he claims that around 1 this morning, the Union was informed a meeting would instead take place on Wednesday, after the ministry learned of the Union’s plans to take industrial action.

Meanwhile, Bahamas Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson made it clear that teachers were not part of today’s industrial action.

She says all teachers reported for duty.

The Ministry later announced that schools would officially close at noon today, but for parents, the sudden closure this morning was frustrating.