What Will Teachers Do?

Public officers have made their voices heard, but the final word is still out on one critical group: the teachers.

Over 75% of Public Service Union (PSU) members voted in favour of accepting the government’s latest salary and increment proposal.

The Association of Public Service Senior Managers (APSSM) also approved the offer. But the Belize National Teachers’ Union (BNTU) has yet to announce its decision, and their vote could determine whether a months-long standoff with the government finally ends or drags on.

The current proposal offers a 4.5% salary increase starting in October, followed by an additional 4% over the next two years. Two long-frozen salary increments will also be restored during that time.

As for the BNTU, their members are still being polled. But with school out for the summer and many teachers living in remote areas without reliable internet access, the process has been slow. The union needs a majority vote from its membership to either accept or reject the proposal.

For now, the question hangs in the air: What will teachers do?