There are many Bahamian college trained teachers who have been trained at COB and other institutions who have not been hired in the public service ......... either as P&P or on contracts ....... Why keep 30-40 year veterans on the payroll????? ........... This contradicts the FNM's hiring policy

better than hiring cubans, who must remit most of their salaries to the cuban govt.

also the retirees are cheaper in the long run because their pensions will not increase.

This truly daft policy announced by Jeffrey Lloyd only serves to discourage young Bahamians from pursuing a career in teaching....there's no shortage, give others a chance. Besides, most of the very aged teachers he's talking about haven't exactly produced stellar results in terms of the average calibre of D- student graduating from high school over the past two plus decades. Minnis should make Lloyd his press secretary and dump the existing one who is doing a terrible job. We need a strong, wise, astute and capable Minister of Education to handle the problems of that enormous Ministry....Lloyd will never fit that bill nor can he ever rise to the occasion. We all have our limitations and it is up to Minnis to exercise good judgement in recognizing that fact and, where necessary, re-shuffle the deck before its too late!

Our good old Deputy Director specifically recruited Cuban teachers even when it wasn't their subject speciality and local experienced teschers were retired.and willing. Not only do Cubans not integrate they also simply come for the money. And their exam results are often very poor.

Comrades! No muss, no fuss about it. The red shirts crown ministers, have developed a love affair with all PLP policies and expenditures they campaigned against up to May 10,2017.... all left is to dye their red t-shirts - PLP yellow, and invite V. Alfred and the former AG Allyson Maynard Gibson QC to join red cabinet? { Why bother making stuff up? }.

The Bahamas don't have an unemployment problem but a lack of skill/educated work force.

Amen Deddie. The Bahamaland should and can within the next 5-10 years be working towards 'guaranteeing every citizen a Minimum Yearly Income of $25,000, BahamaCARE, Old Age Pensions of $2,000 monthly and Death Benefits of $5,000 ' - not running with beggars cup in hand to world money lenders. None this is possible, unless our government gets on with the business of deporting those done here and keeping new illegal immigrants outside our country's borders. The Sovereignty of the Bahamaland, must be protected at all costs.

There are large numbers of Bahamians who have a first degree but have no job ........ just give them the right incentive and let them join the teaching service on 5 year contracts with a plan to become teacher certified within that time frame ........ and create a PD plan available outside of University of The Bahamas BEd programme to allow these degreed persons to be certified in their schools through an online system with proper mentoring ..... but NO to old retirees!!!!!!!!

Excellent suggestions. Hopefully the decision-makers read what you've posted here.

Sheeprunner12 I support your point of view. My sister and I just had this conversation some weeks ago. We are both university grads with degrees in multiple areas (B.S & M.S.) with an interest in changing careers towards education. However, the red tape and utter nonsense we heard from the Ministry of Education and UB was just frustrating. My sister applied to UB and was accepted in the BS Education program only to be told she will have to start from the beginning (Math 101, etc.) because her degree is 10 years old- mind you her degrees are from accredited universities in the US, but yet the government is willing to take on so many retired teachers (no disrespect to these teachers as many have done a tremendous job) but there have to be other means of getting others in the classroom that are working or willing to work towards getting certified outside of the realm of UB. My goodness with this mentality we will continue to have shortages and retirees in the classroom.

Why don't you contact the Minister directly, he responses to all his messages, email, facebook, twitter.

I agree but be proactive and contact the Minister directly, he responses to all his messages, email, facebook, twitter.

Have the embassies do a email blast. Lots of Bahamian teachers working abroad as far as Dubai.

Dubai teachers make $100,000 per year ........ very tempting hey????????

The reality is that is you knew the right person you could walk right out of industry into the classroom -FACT. There is one school where a music teacher is unqualified but used to drive a jitney. That being said the practical subjects are always short of teacher so why not encourage above average BTVI woodwork, Small engine, plumbing, electrical students to enter the profession whilst completing a part time course at COB. Much better than disinterested Cubans who simply accrue as much wealth as possible to take back whilst spending as little as possible.

The UB should be thinking out of the box for immediate solutions to this problem. Forget the old maxims and create new ones! Weekend and night classes and online programs offered to potential teachers to gain required credentials is one way to get younger teachers in the classroom quickly but completion should not take forever. People are turned off facing an endless length of red tape. They want to commit to the shortest possible time and get on with the job while receiving respect for their talent, knowledge and skills. I agree the older retired teachers should be used as a last resort.

I would suggest to all on here who commented with excellent suggestions to please contact the Minister directly; he responses to his emails, facebook and twitter messages. We cannot continue to be laid back and satisfied with the status quo, please send your suggestions directly to him.

....more than likely you are him.

Some people think that achieving a college degree automatically qualifies you to be a teacher. No, it does not. You need a specialized and specific set of skills to teach, just like becoming a lawyer, you get a degree first and then go to law school for 2 years, teaching, degree first then teaching certificate, which typically takes a year. And don't expect any big money either. There is a reason we have a teacher shortage, hiring a bunch of unpeople who feel entitled because they have a degree will not fix the problem. They sound like they feel entitled to be hired so I expect they would make not very good teachers. Teaching is a vocation, not something to do because you have wasted years and dollars getting a degree in a subject with no practical application in the jobs market,. Go sit at the back of the class and stop snivelling.

How can DOE & some urban schools justify having 5-10 teachers just sitting in their schools for substitution of other teachers who are chronically absent from duty????? ...... While other schools do not even have the basic complement of staff on Day 1????? ......... Watsayu??????