Teacher vacancies being filled, says Education Minister

Senior Multimedia Reporter

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Education Minister Dr Michael Dowlath says the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) has accelerated efforts to fill hundreds of teaching vacancies across the country as part of a wider initiative to strengthen both academic and technical-vocational education.

Speaking to reporters while attending the 25th anniversary celebration of Debe Secondary School, Dowlath said the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the TSC, was working to ensure all vacant teaching and administrative posts are filled “as quickly as possible”.

“Since the month of May, we have been meeting with the Teaching Service Commission,” Dr Dowlath said.

“They are filling the posts at the level of principal and vice principal, and they are now moving on to the teaching posts, not just at the secondary but also at the primary level.”

He acknowledged that some schools continued to experience staffing shortages but assured that the recruitment process is well underway, with interviews in progress.

At the same time, Dr Dowlath announced a major revamp of the country’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme. He said the Cabinet had approved 165 new TVET teaching positions as part of a drive to modernise secondary education and expand skills-based learning opportunities, especially in rural areas.

“Over the past ten years, we realised that the TVET area was neglected,” he said. “We are now in the process of revamping the technical vocational programme in all our secondary schools, especially those in outlying areas.”

He said the initiative aimed to equip students—particularly those less inclined toward academic studies—with employable skills that could lead directly to job opportunities after graduation.

Dowlath also noted that in the 2025 Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA), around 6,000 students scored below 50 per cent, underscoring the need to provide alternative, practical education pathways.

“We are creating opportunities for those students to be exposed to technical and vocational areas where, when they graduate, they can go almost immediately into employment,” he said.

He noted that the expansion of TVET offerings is part of the Ministry’s broader effort to balance digital learning with hands-on, skills-based education. Dr Dowlath said the rollout of the enhanced TVET programme will begin this academic year, following assessments of schools’ readiness and infrastructure.

As Debe Secondary—originally established under the government’s STEM modernisation programme in 2000—celebrates its silver anniversary, the minister emphasised that the next phase of educational development will focus on preparing students for both technological innovation and the world of work.

He praised school principal and national award recipient Romeo Gunness for his astute leadership, saying Debe Secondary has become a first-choice school for many parents in the area. Gunness, who served as principal for the past 18 years, praised his predecessor Judith Perreira as well as the Debe Secondary Parents Council led by Samantha Persad-Harracksingh.

Contacted for comment, TTUTA president Crystal Bevin Ashe said he was not informed about the filling of vacancies but was pleased with this development. He said, “TTUTA has not been formally informed about the filing of vacancies, but if that is the case, we welcome it because we want to ensure that schools have a level of stability which will allow them to perform. We want stability from the head, which is the filling of administrative positions, so that subordinates can work in a comfortable environment.”