by Curlan Campbell
- GUT President accused ministry of failing to adequately address long-standing salary delays
- GUT list identified 17 teachers owed salaries between September 2025 and April 2026
- Employee Payroll Issue Reporting Form and bank account validation requirement introduced
The Ministry of Education has defended its handling of teacher payment issues following concerns raised by Grenada Union of Teachers (GUT) President Jude Bartholomew, who accused the ministry of failing to adequately address long-standing salary delays affecting educators.
Speaking at a post-Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday, Permanent Secretary for Educational Administration Lorraine St Louis-Nedd sought to clarify the matter, emphasising that teachers remain a priority for the government. “The Ministry of Education values teachers because we see teachers as central to national development,” St Louis-Nedd said, adding that the ministry is committed to ensuring all educators are compensated for their work.
According to the permanent secretary, the GUT submitted a list on 19 May 2026 identifying 17 teachers owed salaries between September 2025 and April 2026. She clarified that the teachers involved were not entirely unpaid but had experienced missed or partial salary payments during specific pay cycles.
“All teachers are currently on the payroll and receiving salaries,” she stated.
Following receipt of the list, the Ministry of Education stated that they conducted a comprehensive review in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, including the Accountant General’s Division and financial institutions. The review found that 11 of the 17 cases had been fully resolved, with payroll records and banking institutions confirming that the payments had reached the teachers’ accounts, and 6 of those cases had been settled before the ministry received the union’s submission.
St Louis-Nedd reported that 4 additional cases are currently being processed and are expected to be completed during the first payment cycle of June. The remaining 2 cases, she said, involve more complex issues but are expected to be resolved before the end of the month.
Addressing the causes of the payment delays, the permanent secretary explained that the Ministry of Education is not directly responsible for paying teachers. Instead, several agencies are involved in the appointment and payroll process, including the Department of Public Administration, the Public Service Commission and the Ministry of Finance.
Among the primary causes identified were banking errors, administrative delays, system issues and salary classification mistakes. In 4 cases, salary payments were sent to incorrect bank accounts due to errors in banking information. St Louis-Nedd explained that such mistakes can occur either through incorrect data entry or inaccurate account information being provided.
She outlined the recovery process for payments sent to the wrong account, noting that the Accountant General’s Division works with financial institutions to recover the funds before reissuing payments to the affected teacher. The PS pointed to one case which proved particularly difficult for the Ministry of Education, after a salary payment was deposited into another teacher’s account and subsequently spent. Efforts to recover the funds were delayed because the individual could not be immediately located.
The review also uncovered delays linked to appointment processing, 2 system-related errors and one case involving incorrect salary classification, in which a teacher received payment at the wrong grade level. Additionally, St Louis-Nedd revealed that 6 teachers hired earlier this year have not yet begun receiving salaries. However, she assured the public that the necessary processes are underway and that payments are expected this month.
The Permanent Secretary also addressed the implementation of the recently negotiated 4% salary increase for teachers. She reported that payroll records show only one teacher has yet to receive the increase, while 47 teachers are still awaiting retroactive payments covering the period from January 2026. Those outstanding payments are expected to be settled before the end of June.
To improve the handling of payroll concerns, the Ministry of Education has introduced an Employee Payroll Issue Reporting Form. Teachers can use the form to report pay discrepancies and submit it via email to education@moe.edu.gd, where dedicated staff will investigate and provide updates. The Ministry of Finance has also introduced a bank account validation requirement for new appointments and banking changes. Employees must provide official bank documentation showing their name, address, and account number. Those with online banking may submit downloaded account information instead of visiting a branch.
Looking ahead, St Louis-Nedd said the ministry, with Cabinet support, will work with relevant government departments to streamline administrative procedures and reduce delays in payments for new and reappointed teachers. “Yes, that was true, but clearly it is no longer acceptable,” she said, referring to the historically lengthy delays teachers often faced when entering the profession.
The ministry reported that nearly all teachers have now received the 4% salary increase agreed under the collective bargaining agreement signed in March 2026. Most teachers received the increase in April, additional cases were resolved in May, and only 1 teacher remains outstanding, with payment expected in the next payroll cycle.
In addition, 47 teachers have not yet received the retroactive payments owed from January, when the increase should have taken effect. Out of almost 1,700 teachers, these are the only remaining cases, and the Ministry expects all outstanding payments to be resolved before the end of the month.
