THE RIGHTS OF TEACHERS IN

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

1. The right to one hour of lunch – Circular 105 of 1979(dated 16th July,
1979) on Regularity and Punctuality at Work states that the“official
working hours are as follows: Primary School Level – 8:30 to 11:30 amand
12:30 to 3:00 pm; Secondary School Level – 8:10 to 11:15 am and 12:15
to2:30 pm.” See the circular here:
https://app.box.com/s/onfryy465g6cvd97um4k

2. The right to a manageable class size

 Circular Memorandum No 81 (dated 25th May 1998) statesthat at the Primary

level “all classes other than infant classes shall notexceed an enrolment of thirty
(30) pupils, while infant classes shall notexceed and enrolment of twenty-five
(25) pupils.” See the circular here: https://app.box.com/s/cu1brjbqlqz40aab2fpq

 In Secondary Schools, Forms 1 to 5 shall NOT exceed 35students for academic

subjects and 15 students for specialized (practical)subjects. Class size for students
preparing for CAPE shall NOT exceed 20students.

 For Special Needs students, class size shall NOT exceed 8students or 3 students
in profound cases. A ratio of one teacher to one studentmight be necessary in
exceptional cases.

 For all ECCE Centres call size shall NOT exceed 15students.

Seepage 54 of “Standards and Guidelines for the Operation of All Schools”

(January2007) here:
https://app.box.com/s/xd57pbban4pnffho0vzuuqehn0zp278m
 3. The right to a manageable workload in Secondary Schools –Circular
Memorandum No 57 (dated 6th July 2009) states that out of 40 teachingperiods
per week the optimal number of teaching periods that should be allocated to

 Deans/HOD's is 50% or 20 periods.

 Form 1 to 5 Teachers of Practical Subjects is 66.67% or27 periods.

 Form 1 to 5 Teachers of Non Practical Subjects is 75% or30 periods.

 Form 6 Teachers is 66.67% or 27 periods.

See the circular here:

https://app.box.com/s/jyxmzu4nou4adgebbwjthktdj7gsc3zc

4. The right to remove himself/herself from the workplace

ifhazardous situations or conditions that are injurious to health or
life arises –Section 15 (a) of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act says
in partthat “An employee may refuse to work or do particular work where he has
sufficientreason to believe that… there is serious and imminent danger to himself
orunusual circumstances have arisen which are hazardous or injurious to
hishealth or life..." See Section 15 of the OSH Act here:
https://app.box.com/s/8szgj99phkx3pfbsnfbsubxr44b93ufu

5. The right to a supply of wholesome drinking water –Section 39 (1) of

the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act says in part that“effective
arrangements shall be made to provide and maintain at suitablepoints
conveniently situated for all persons employed therein, a sufficientsupply of cool,
wholesome, drinking water.” The procedure for when there is nowater in school
as given in TTUTA’s Staff Representative Manual may be foundhere:
https://app.box.com/s/jgczyn0orvudhx1391h5zdtw0kphtvvs
 

6. The right to at least two hours of time off to collectsalaries – Circular

Memorandum No 84 (dated 5th May 1993) statesthat “teachers shall be granted
time off to collect salaries” and “in normalcircumstances up to two (2) hours shall
be allowed.” Not that in “specialcircumstances additional time off may be granted
at the discretion of theprincipal.” See the circular here:
https://app.box.com/shared/mql0hnfb3l0ox0e89zqq

7. The right to time off to attend mosque – Circular A of1961, paragraph 7

says that “approval has been given to Muslim teachers andpupils in all school to
have an hour off (1:00 pm to 2:00 pm) every Friday toattend their Mosques for
congregational prayers.” See the circular here:
https://app.box.com/s/6464cd39fc0d2e64d5f3

8. The right to a copy of his/her Staff Report - CircularMemorandum 25

(dated 3rd April, 1991) on Management of Human Resources andStaff Reporting
in the Public Service (Confidential Staff Reports) states that"an officer should be
provided with a copy of his/her StaffReport..." See the circular here:
https://app.box.com/shared/97vbm5c6lxx81600kyso

9. The right to a copy of any adverse report recorded ofthem in the

Log Book - Circular Memorandum No 42 (dated 7th March 1994) on theUse of
the Log Book states in Paragraph (v) that "any adverse report on amember of
staff recorded in the Log Book shall be shown to that member of staffand signed
by him/her... The teacher could request a copy of the entry."See the circular here:
https://app.box.com/s/1z922vf507ai5xr1e255

 
10. The right to reply to any adverse markings/comments onSpecial
Reports - Circular Memorandum No 243 (dated 18th December, 1987)
statesthat Principals are "to draw to the attention of the Teacher any
adversemarkings/comments on Special Reports and that the Teacher should be
given theopportunity to make any representations in the matter as he/she may
wish."See the circular here:
https://app.box.com/shared/7ac4m3cuda028m432ze9

11. The right to have a  Staff Representative present whentaking up a

grievance matter with the Principal - Circular Memorandum No 21(dated
30th January 1984) states in Step 1 of the Grievance Procedure that"the
aggrieved teacher, with or without his Association representative, atthe option of
the teacher, shall take up the grievance with the Head of theInstitution
(Principal) in which the aggrieved teacher is employed." Seethe circular here:
https://app.box.com/shared/wlfxmkkn7ztilur8rqft/3/1467772025/1303404643
3/1

12. The right to identify his/her accuser when faced withallegations –

Circular Memorandum E/14/2011 dated 18th February, 2011 statesthat
“Anonymous letters should be given no notice since it is a common lawpractice
that the accused should always be in a position to identify hisaccuser and answer
such a person in defence of his case.” See the circularhere:
https://app.box.com/s/w12q1yk65x5fbzhoewqrn58fh0qqpzro

13. The right to form or join associations or trade unionssuch as the

Trinidad & Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) -Section 74O
of the Education Act says that teachers "...may form anassociation which may be
registered as a trade union or may join a tradeunion."
  

14. The right to be treated fairly by his/her school administrator -

Section 77 (2) (g) of the Education (Teaching Service)Regulations states that a
teacher who "exercises authority unreasonably, or abuses that authority in the
course of performing required duties ...commits an act of misconduct."

15. The right to apply for various category of leave including: 

 Fourteen (14) days occasional leave per year to attend to urgent private affairs –
Section 45 (1) of the Education Act states that “A teacher is entitled to fourteen
days occasional leave per year on full pay for the purpose of attending to urgent
private affairs but not more than seven days may be taken on any one occasion.”

  Fourteen (14) days sick leave per year – Section 47 of the Education Act says that
“sick leave may be granted by the Minister to a teacher for a period not exceeding
fourteen days annually…”

 Three (3) days and up to five (5) days bereavement leaveon the death of an
immediate family member – Section 47A of the Education Act says in part “…
where the death of an immediate family member has occurred, a teacher shall be
eligible for the grant of bereavement leave…”

 Sabbatical leave of up to one (1) academic year – Section 46A (1) of the Education
Act says that “Any eligible member of the Service who wishes to undertake
academic or educational study or research which is relevant to the needs of the
Service and which study complements or supports the training programmes and
plans of the Ministry and the Tobago House of Assembly, may be eligible for the
grant of sabbatical leave.”
 Three (3) days adoption leave – Section 48B (1) of the Education Act says that “A
teacher shall be eligible for the grant of adoption leave of three working days
where he adopts a child.”

 Four (4) days paternity leave – Section 48A of the Education Act says in part that
“a male teacher shall be eligible for paternity leave of four working days at or
about the time his spouse gives birth."

 Fourteen (14) weeks of maternity leave - Personnel Department Circular No. 2 of

2013 dated 17th December, 2013 states “The Maternity Protection Act, Chapter
45:57 was amended by Act No. 7 of 2012 to provide for the grant of fourteen
weeks Maternity Leave to female employees.”See
https://app.box.com/s/dsvb8n79bgjnk994e0fosmlkj2o0i2zs for the circular. For
more detailed information onMaternity benefits and the application process see
here: https://app.box.com/s/q5z061scc3sw1m6arm9esn9hogpxz9k5

Compiled by Barry Joel Desaine and Kady Beckles

Updated on 11th August 2015