ANGLICAN Bishop Claude Berkley is hoping for a win-win outcome for all parties concerned in the ongoing talks over the future of Bishop Anstey Trinity College East (BATCE) schools, he told Newsday on June 5. Talks are under way between the Ministry of Education and the Bishop Anstey Association (BAA) on whether the schools should remain private or become state-assisted. He expressed his empathy for the schools' staff – whose status would be unclear in any transition of the schools' status – but said he was not in a position to offer any assurances.
Berkley said a recent ministry statement said the school was due to meet with a Cabinet-appointed committee on the matter. "We are to meet with them and I would say that in the meantime discussions are ongoing.
"We were not able to meet at that time and there was an information-gathering process that was going on and that was done in writing, an exchange of information. Therefore at the moment and where we are at present, we can only say the discussions are ongoing."
Newsday asked if there was any deadline to conclude negotiations to decide on the schools' status.
"Not that we are aware of, except what was published in the media where the ministry had made mention of a kind of time line, a time frame.
"We don't have that kind of information because that information would depend on how the discussions will go and what are the things to be done. If things are not done within time, then that might be an issue."
Newsday asked about his recent remarks to a media house that no firm decision had been made on if the schools would transition.
Berkley said, "Well, let us put it this way. No firm decision. We accepted the idea of a change in principle but we needed to know what was involved in that principle, and whether there were matters we would be left with which are beyond our control."
Newsday asked if he could give any assurances to BATCE teachers worried how the transition might affect their recognition, job tenure, salary and leave entitlement.
Berkley said, "Indeed. We have said that to the teachers. We have their best interest at heart.
"But to give an assurance is a risky business in terms of what the negotiations might turn up or how we might conclude. So we are not able to give an assurance except to say we are striving for what would be in the best interest of the teachers in accordance with what they have enunciated on a 'needs list' which I think we had collected."
Newsday asked if the uncertainty over possible changes to staff's status had made teachers very discouraged in now doing their duties and an almost work-to-rule scenario.
Berkley said he was not aware of any matter of teachers on a work to rule. "But I know they have expressed repeatedly their great distress and trauma at the uncertainty that has arisen. We are not strictly in a position to offer them 'position X' or 'Y.' This is all subject to how the discussions will be played out.
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