The National Workers Union, NWU, is calling on the Education Ministry to immediately convene a meeting with the union, to discuss the ministry’s plans to end bursar paid schools.

General Secretary Granville Valentine, says the union is still awaiting a response from the minister or the Permanent Secretary, regarding what he describes as an ambiguous public statement, by Minister Fayval Williams.

The union wrote to the ministry requesting a meeting on the weekend.

Mr. Valentine says discussions must be had on the way forward.

Mr. Valentine says the matter must be discussed with the bursars before any implementation.

He is urging the minister to facilitate such dialogue.

Meantime, the Education Ministry says it has no plan to displace bursars from the school system.

In a release today (August 29), the ministry said the implementation of the MY HR Plus automated system is intended to enhance the efficiency in preparing salaries of teachers, who are normally paid through the schools.

It said a pilot of the planned removal of the salary payment responsibilities to the central ministry’s operations was tested in two schools earlier this year, and is being assessed in others.

The ministry further explained that the removal of the salary payment responsibility from bursars, will not affect the other duties which they currently have in schools.

These duties include managing the financial and accounting affairs of the institution, developing local instruments to enhance financial control, and providing accurate and timely financial information for the school board and the ministry of education.

In addition, bursars will continue supervising the administrative and ancillary staff of institutions, prepare internal accounting reports, financial statements, annual budget & cash flow statements, and supervise administrative and ancillary staff among other responsibilities.