All members of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) should hang their heads in shame for the call made by their vice-president, Davanand Sinanan, for two-days of "rest and relax".

It seems that the only time you hear about TTUTA is when "teachers" want a salary increase. Is this the sole purpose of this organisation?

There are so many schools in disrepair but I don't hear TTUTA asking teachers to "rest and relax" until these repairs are put on the front burner and addressed immediately.

So many schools have not received books for last year and the year before, but no calls for "rest and relax" over this.

Indiscipline, violence and bullying are becoming more and more serious in our schools and nothing positive is being done by the Ministry of Education to curb this trend. Any calls to "rest and relax" here? Of course not!

This will not cause a direct increase in TTUTA officials' salaries. So definitely no wasted calls over such insignificant matters.

And what about Mr Tim Gopeesingh's interference with the SEA examination—he changed the exam from March to May; he wants to add seven new subject areas for testing; he promised equipment for these subject areas which schools have not seen as yet; he wants to do creative writing exam in November before the syllabus for Standard Five even gets off to a start; he wants to have two creative writing exams after he said no more creative writing exam; he has not listened to reason and logic from TTUTA, supervisors, principals, teachers and parents of those affected by these exam changes—any "rest and relax" for these matters, Mr Sinanan? Of course not!!

Is it because these matters do not directly affect you? Well guess what, these matters directly affect every paying member of your organisation.

Teachers should stand up and demand more from their TTUTA representatives.

TTUTA should not be allowed to take the dues every month and hibernate for six months before they surface again, fooling you into taking days off for no justified reason.

Come on, teachers, you are educated people. Do what is right and if you so want a salary increase stop paying TTUTA to represent you. You will have an immediate increase in your salary!

Lettisia Ali

Cunupia