In a significant policy reversal, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley has declared the government’s intention to restore long leave benefits for educators beginning in 2026. The announcement, delivered during parliamentary proceedings on Tuesday, aims to resolve what the Prime Minister characterized as a “long and vexatious matter” that has plagued the education sector since the benefit’s suspension in 2014.
The educational community has responded with measured optimism. Barbados Association of Principals of Public Secondary Schools (BAPPSS) President Robin Douglas expressed that administrators and teachers were “extremely encouraged” by the commitment, noting that the reinstatement would allow educators to “rest, recuperate, rejuvenate and return with greater inspired attention.” Douglas tempered expectations by acknowledging financial constraints would likely prevent implementation before the 2026 financial year.
Retired educator Jeff Broomes, who served as teachers’ union vice-president during the initial suspension, welcomed the move as “long overdue” while emphasizing the reality of teacher burnout. Broomes advocated for prioritizing educators denied leave since 2014 and suggested reforming eligibility requirements from the previous 15-year threshold to 10 years for initial leave with five-year intervals thereafter.
The policy restoration follows sustained advocacy from teachers’ unions and legal challenges including a 2017 judicial review and a High Court judgment in December 2023. Barbados Union of Teachers President Rudy Lovell has called for urgent consultations, expressing hope for resolution by January’s end. The move represents a substantial victory for Barbados’ educational professionals after nearly a decade of suspended benefits.