TTUTA: BoAs, some teachers unpaid in December

TTUTA president Crystal Ashe -

TT Unified Teachers Association president Crystal Ashe said over 100 business operations assistants (BoAs) have not been paid since their contracts expired at the end of November. He said this is concerning with schools set to reopen on Monday, as these workers are integral to the running of these institutions.

Speaking to Newsday via phone on January 2, Ashe said BoAs are the secretaries who assist principals in running schools.

“We would have met with the education ministry just before the contracts expired and were told they would be renewed. To date none of these people have been communicated with.

“So you’re talking about a few hundred of them out of jobs right now. They got less salary in November because most of them only worked about three weeks that month, so they got three weeks pay in November and nothing for December.

"So again, no money for these poor individuals who are very integral to the running of a school for the month of December, and then January. With school opening Monday, they don’t know about their security of tenure.”

He said when TTUTA contacted the principals, they were unaware of the situation and had had no communication from the ministry.

“TTUTA looks at it as not a very positive sign, because a BoA is integral to the running of a school. This person really assists the principal in the execution of his or her duties, and if it is they don’t have them, then our schools will be in some problems.

“We really want the BoAs to come back to the schools so the principals can be able to do their jobs, because in the absence of the BoAs, the principals have to do all the work, and it is almost impossible for a principal to do all the things they are required to do. They’re only human.”

Ashe called on the ministry to rectify the situation as soon as possible to alleviate the stress being felt by the BoAs.

“Let them have some security of tenure, so they can tell their families, 'listen, I am employed, I will be paid at the end of the month. Daddy or mummy can make their financial commitments.' It’s not fair.”

When contacted, the ministry told Newsday via WhatsApp message that it was aware of the concerns raised regarding the contracts of BoA personnel.

“The matter is currently under active consideration, and the ministry is at the stage of seeking the necessary approvals from Cabinet before proceeding with further engagements related to the renewal of these contracts.

“Once the approval process is completed, the ministry will be in a position to provide clearer guidance on the way forward. The ministry remains committed to keeping all relevant stakeholders informed as developments occurs.”

Ashe also said at least 20 teachers had reported to TTUTA that they had not been paid in December.

“Bear in mind, none of these people have indicated they will not be going out to school. They even have a willingness and a consciousness to go back out to school to serve the nation, even under the fact that they have not received their money. But it is unacceptable.

“They said it was because of some anomaly or some issue with respect to the ministry of education in their accounts section. We are hoping the ministry and all the other people who are involved, ministry of finance, in terms of these salaries, that are due to teachers in January, that the groundwork is being done and that they will actually be paid the money that is due to them at the end of January 2026.”

The ministry said it was fully aware of the situation and is actively addressing the matter. “Every effort is being made to ensure that payments are processed within the coming weeks.”

Ashe said the association was watching and observing which schools would reopen on January 5, as there were a few with infrastructural issues.

“The ministry is working on them but we are not sure if by Monday the schools will be in a state of readiness. We have a school, Richmond Street Boys Anglican, they have been plagued by rats, and they would have been closed a month prior to the regular closing of school, and we have no indication as to whether or not the school would be reopened on Monday.”