Concerns over slow communication in the public service are now front and centre, as Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit used the example of teacher confirmations to highlight the issue. He argued that public officers should not have to wait months after decisions have been made before receiving official word of their appointments.
125 Confirmed Teachers and More to Come
Amid these concerns, Skerrit announced that 125 teachers have already been granted permanent appointments for 2025. Additional requests are still before the Public Service Commission, with more confirmations expected in the coming months. The move, he said, forms part of the government’s broader commitment to strengthening the education system and addressing longstanding frustrations among public officers.
Acting Roles and Secondments Addressed
Skerrit was equally blunt about the practice of keeping individuals in temporary or acting roles for years. He described the cycle of six-month renewals stretching into five or eight years as unfair and bordering on injustice. Cabinet has since taken a formal position on the issue of secondments, stressing that indefinite assignments cannot continue if they block permanent appointments.
A Promise of Fairer Treatment
While praising the teachers who have now been confirmed, Skerrit emphasised that the government must do more to streamline processes and ensure fairer treatment for all employees. “We need to improve communication,” he stressed, adding that every decision made should be promptly relayed to those affected.
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