NASSAU, Bahamas (CMC) – The Government of Bahamas has dismissed claims by the Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) that a group of Cuban teachers that it has employed cannot speak English.

“It was unfortunate that the BUT was unable to send a representative for the interview pane. The teachers recruited are the result of a memorandum of understanding signed by the ministry and the Republic of Cuba which has over the last 20 years, allowed the ministry to meet deficits in specialized areas.

“The panel was satisfied that the teachers are highly qualified and have competency in English,” the Ministry of Education said in a statement.

BUT president, Belinda Wilson, who called for an investigation into the allegations that the teachers cannot speak English, told the Tribune newspaper on Thursday that teachers in Abaco, Grand Bahama and New Providence have been complaining about language barriers.

“Within the last few days. I would’ve received concerns from several schools where some of the new Cuban teachers that have just arrived within the last few weeks, there seems to be a language barrier and some of them are having difficulty speaking the English language.”

She said that some of the students have also raised the issue and while the new teachers are desperately needed, the union would not sit idly by if the situation is not addressed.

“If the children are unable to understand what they’re saying, or they’re unable to understand what the children and teachers are saying, then its counter-productive so, as I said earlier, we are grateful for our colleagues from Cuba, but once a complaint comes to the union or a concern, we must follow up,” she added.

In its statement, the Ministry of Education said the teachers were recruited as a result of a scrutiny process that involved seasoned public servants from several ministries and agencies.

“We are pleased that this year, the ministry has been able to deploy technical and vocational teachers, allowing equitable access to these studies nationwide.

“The ministry has been able to bolster the complement of special education teachers who have also been deployed nationwide to ensure no child is left out.

“We are confident based on previous years and in light of the enhanced student access, and with the collaboration of all stakeholders including the BUT that these teachers will play an invaluable role alongside all of our other teachers in the educational well-being of our nation’s children,” it added.