By Mariam Williams
Madam Marie Antoinette Corr-Jack, General Secretary of the Gambia Teachers Union [GTU], has said that in the wake of the Three Years Jotna palava, the GTU is calling on its members to continue with their normal teaching duties and desist from any industrial action, unless otherwise sanctioned by the GTU.
The GTU official made these remarks during a press briefing held at the GTU head office in Kanifing.
She reported that the leadership of the GTU “has been keenly monitoring the socio-political space of our motherland during the recent period and wish to make their position very clear on the ubiquitous matter of a pending “demonstration” due in a couple of days or weeks”.
The school administrators also were urged to advise their students to refrain from taking any undue risk that may jeopardise their education.
Corr-Jack disclosed that management has learnt with deep regret that some schools have allegedly favourably reacted to this scenario by altering their end of term exams timetable which is quite unfortunate. “The Union wishes to inform it’s members that it will continue to observe the due processes, systems and mechanisms and should it warrant them to embark on any sort of industrial action, the GTU will duly advise them accordingly.
“While we continue our request to pursue our demands from MoBSE and personal management office (PMO) as regards the welfare and wellbeing of our general membership, we urged all members to exercise restraint,” she relayed on behalf of the Union.
“The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education is hereby urged to specify the closing and opening of schools for the incoming Terms for clarity purpose. We assure you of our unreserved commitment and resolve to continue championing the interest of our members,” she concluded.
