Despite a recent work-from-home order

for public sector employees, which came into effect on Thursday (March 4), some

teachers are still required to attend school, despite not teaching examination

grades.

Among those required to attend are

educators at the St Thomas Technicalschool,

who say going into the school is putting them at an increased risk of

contracting the COVID-19 virus.

One teacher, who spoke to BUZZ on the condition of anonymity, shared

that there was a discrepancy between the school’s position as it relates to

working from home, and that of the Ministry of Education.

According to the teacher, she has made

several calls to the ministry, as well as, the Jamaica Teachers Association, and

was told only educators teaching exam grades are physically required to be

there.

However, the teacher told BUZZ that the school’s position is

that all teachers must be in school, irrespective of the grade they teach.

“My issue is at my school there is no

justification, there is no

logic for teachers who don’t teach fifth form- they want all of us to be on

campus every day except Fridays – Whether you teach fifth form or not. Personally, I don’t teach fifth or sixth form

this year, why do I need to go to school physically to teach virtually,” the

teacher said.

According to a second educator, who teaches

a specialty subject, the issue

was raised at a staff meeting and staff were told everyone has to be there

because some teachers were not attending classes.

While recognising the need to have

accountability, the teacher believes that the school administrators need

to take a different approach to solving the problem.

“She (the principal) is basically

saying that some teachers are not going to class. But you can sit right in the staff room and

decide not to go. I’ve seen it

over and over,” the teacher shared

“They need to find some other way to

ensure accountability. Why do

I need to travel to school – taking public transport at that- to teach a

virtual class. Why? You have

almost 60 people coming in and we wonder why COVID-19 is spreading,” added the

teacher.

In addition to increasing the chances

for contracting and spreading the virus, the teacher pointed out that,

oftentimes, going into the school is counterproductive.

The teacher shared that on several

occasions educators have exhausted the whole day at the school sitting in the

staff room attempting to connect to the Internet.

“It makes no sense, we just sit

there because the Internet connectivity is poor, worse there are so many of us

attempting to get on,” the teacher said.

“I was at school two days before

midterms and there was no Internet connectivity and all we did was just sit

there for Monday and Tuesday no teaching was done unless the teacher decided

that look I am going to

use my data to have classes,” the teacher added.

According to the teacher another major

problem is that the leadership at the school attempts to foster an environment

in which teachers are not encouraged to speak up but instead

utilizes tactics that

discourage conversation and openness.

The teacher revealed that she has seen

testy exchanges between the principal and other staff members, who attempt to

challenge the school’s position.

“The principal’s response to teachers

who question the need to come in is absolute nonsense, such as, ‘the board said…’

but when I called the JTA they said ‘nothing like that’,” added

the teacher.

The teacher further revealed that at

least three staff members, including two teachers, at the institution have

tested positive for COVID-19.

BUZZ

reached out to the principal at the school, who said she does not want to

comment on the matter.

Similarly the vice-principal

declined to comment on the matter.