Senior Reporter
kevon.felmine@guardian.co.tt
The Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) has advised its members to only report to schools that the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) has assigned them to.
In an advisory issued on Wednesday, TTUTA told teachers that if their assigned school is closed, they should not report for work.
It stated, “Any instruction to report to another location by any entity other than the Teaching Service Commission should be ignored. If there are attempts by agents of the employer to intimidate you, please report it immediately to the association. TTUTA remains vigilant and committed to defending our members against unfair and coercive treatment.”
Some teachers told Guardian Media that while neither the TSC nor the MoE sent instructions to report elsewhere, some school officials had instructed them to go to different locations while their schools were undergoing spraying for mosquitoes.
Responding to Guardian Media yesterday, Minister of Education Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly said five schools were scheduled for spraying against mosquitoes between Wednesday and yesterday by the Ministry of Health’s (MoH) Insect Vector Control personnel.
She said health officials advised spraying should be done 48 hours before usage in those cases.
Therefore, she said, teachers of those schools were asked to report to a nearby school for their usual orientation activities yesterday and in some cases, today. She said the schools would be ready for occupation after the 48 hours had elapsed.
Last Friday, the MoH revealed there were 911 cases of dengue fever recorded in T&T, with nine deaths. It continued to urge the public to dispose of all unwanted articles, derelict vehicles and appliances around their homes that can collect water and become mosquito breeding grounds.
It also advised people to cover water containers with a mosquito-proof covering, remove all bush or undergrowth, clean drains and guttering and use mosquito nets and insect repellent to protect themselves against bites.