Wednesday, June 18, 2025
By EARYEL BOWLEG
Tribune Staff Reporter
ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
THE Ministry of Education has paused its plan to recruit more than 70 teachers from Cuba, redirecting efforts toward hiring educators from the United States, Canada, and locally retired professionals to fill upcoming vacancies.
The shift follows comments by Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville, who recently said that the government is suspending recruitment agreements with Cuba pending discussions with US officials.
Education director Dominique McCartney-Russell confirmed the hold and the expanded recruitment strategy in an interview with The Tribune yesterday. She said the ministry has advertised locally and is “recruiting far and wide” to ensure schools are adequately staffed for the coming academic year.
“We’re also going to utilise our retired teachers. We did use about 80 of them last year, and so we’re looking to increase that number,” Mrs McCartney-Russell added.
Currently, 130 Cuban teachers are employed in The Bahamas. Asked whether they will be allowed to complete their contracts, she responded: “That is our hope, but I cannot guarantee that.
“We’re still in discussions.”
Dr. Darville’s recent announcement reflected pressure from the US government regarding the amount of Cuban professionals’ compensation withheld by the Cuban government.
A 2022 contract published by Cuba Archive showed that The Bahamas paid up to $12,000 per month per Cuban doctor, while the individuals received only $990 to $1,200, the remainder funnelled to Cuba’s state-run agency, Comercializadora de Servicios Médicos Cubanos (CSMC).
Bahamian government officials have not denied the veracity of that report.
Comments
K4C says...
Well the education system in the Bahamas can NOT produce students that can go on to fill the needs, typically it takes 4 to 5 years to produce a teacher in Canada, as many Bahamians get worthless degrees, targeting a careers was essential back in the day,
Posted 18 June 2025, 3:31 p.m. Suggest removal
moncurcool says...
> THE Ministry of Education has paused
> its plan to recruit more than 70
> teachers from Cuba, redirecting
> efforts toward hiring educators from
> the United States, Canada, and locally
> retired professionals to fill upcoming
> vacancies.
This has to be a joke right? Who leaves the US or Canada with better living and pay accommodations to come to The Bahamas with is high cost of living and low pay? And that is where they are going to recruit. Wow!
Posted 18 June 2025, 9:02 p.m. Suggest removal
pt_90 says...
Not a lot but some do.
In government schools I've had several English and Candian teachers. Same with UB. I've not had from the US.
They cite weather, change of pace etc. Income tax helps a little but most who go dont for the money since its net a pay cut. I do know they live fairly modestly so its not a lot and its not for everyone.
Posted 19 June 2025, 10:43 a.m. Suggest removal
sheeprunner12 says...
The public school system is in crisis when it comes to having sufficient teachers and administrators. It is both a quantity and quality issue.
Much of the problem has to do with union demands & obstruction, as much as with HQ blunders & logistics.
Too many Bahamians are not prepared to serve outside of NP & GB. The Govt cannot attract or keep school staff to rural communities due to the issue of hardship and domicility policies.
So, there is much work to be done all around.
Posted 19 June 2025, 11:45 a.m. Suggest removal
DreamerX says...
It's almost as if the alleged financial abuse against Cuban workers was proven true....Didn't the Government defend that they were not participating in this abuse willingly? Once they realized then it was time to save face? Glad they made the change going forward but who's being held responsible for the issue the US had to inform us of?
Posted 19 June 2025, 12:37 p.m. Suggest removal
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