The decision announced by the government to appoint some 100 graduate teachers as of January 1, 2018, is as a result of strong advocacy by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers Union (SVGTU).
In his 2017 Independence Day address at the military parade at Victoria Park on October 27, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves announced that 100 teachers who graduated from university up to and including 2012 and who yet have not been appointed to that level will be paid graduate teacher salaries as of January 1, 2018.
He, however, said that those who graduated in 2013 and onwards and who have not been appointed to the grade of graduate teachers would be appointed in annual batches over the next three years until all of them are appointed.
Speaking at a press conference this morning, Mr. Otto Sam, Industrial Relations and Research Officer of the SVG Teachers Union, said that the government took this decision after the Union would have initiated legal action due to failure of the government to appoint graduate teachers.
Mr. Sam said there are teachers, who were given grants and scholarships by the government to pursue studies in an area of study approved by the State, but after several years, many of them were not appointed as graduate teachers.
