All government schools in Barbados are to be closed from 12:30 p.m. today. It is in response to what the Ministry of Education is calling “a clear case of industrial action” by the island’s two teachers unions. Following last week’s violent attack on a teacher at the Ellerslie Secondary School, the Barbados Union of Teachers has scheduled a meeting for its members for 1p.m. today.

Also members of the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union are due to gather at the Barbados Workers Union headquarters at Solidarity House at 1:30 p.m. In a statement last evening the Ministry of Education condemned the plan, saying it is a clear case of industrial action.

The Ministry also said it is unclear as to the reason for the call out, even though both unions have publicly stated that they intend to deal with the general problem of violence in schools, as well as other pressing problems. The Ministry said it intends always to act in the best interest of the students and teachers and any action and activity which compromises this must be condemned.

The unions have been very vocal about the incident at the school where the teacher was spat on and kicked by a female student. The student has since been suspended from the school but the Secondary Teachers Union has been saying she should be expelled. This suggestion has not gotten the support of the Education Minister.