President of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA), Martin Lum Kin, is expressing concern about the integration of migrant children into T&T’s schools.
Today is the first day of the Government's registration process for the admission of Venezuelan migrants into Roman Catholic schools.
Speaking on CNC3's The Morning Brew show, the TTUTA president reported that as part of their professional development, several educators in the target schools are receiving the requisite training at The UWI, to ensure they are able to communicate with and effectively teach the migrant children—whether from Venezuela, China and African countries—under their care.
He observed that while the school environment facilitates different backgrounds, the rest of society may not be as accepting.
“The curriculum allows for difference in religion, race, etcetera,” he points out. “So, our educators are always mindful, and will always attempt to have the children feel comfortable and welcome in their classroom. In the school environment, administrators also are well aware [of this].”
“However, we […] adults and parents and persons within the community need to be educated as well too,” he noted.
Martin Lum Kin revealed that even though he is a national of this country, he also has experienced racism and bullying as a descendent of China immigrants.
“We speak about acceptance, and we say, ‘every creed and race find an equal place’, but sometimes we don’t practice what we preach,” he observed.
The TTUTA president urged all those coming into contact with the migrant students to treat them with respect.