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So, here’s that the ministry had to say about this evening’s emergency meeting. A joint press release from the ministry and the General Managers of Pre and Primary Schools says, quote, â€œThe Ministry along with Managing Authorities hereby expresses their strong disappointment with the approach taken by the (BNTU) leadership in their calling of branch meetings at such short notice. The lack of sufficient notice does not contribute to enhancing industrial relations between the BNTU, the Managements and the Ministry. Furthermore, it shows a total disregard for children and their parents affected as a result, specifically through the loss of instructional time, right at the start of the new school year, and the alternative arrangements parents have to make for their children on such short notice. We therefore express our serious concerns about the lack of sufficient notice and the consistent failure on the part of the BNTU leadership to abide by the agreed upon conditions for union meetings.â€￾ End quote.

The release continues by mentioning that Memorandum, which as you heard, the BNTU National President says they are misinterpreting. The Ministry says that Chief Education Officer got information about this meeting just 2 days ago, and she wrote to them complaining about the short notice.

The release concludes with the Managing Authorities of Primary Schools joining with the Ministry in their disagreement on how this meeting was called. The statement says, quote, â€œWe, the Ministry of Education and the Managing Authorities jointly call upon the BNTU leadership to be more responsible in their approach by acting in a manner more conducive to enhanced industrial relations, and considering how their consistent lack of notice for meetings affects the lives of children and their parents.â€￾ End Quote.

Both the Ministry and the Managing Authorities are expecting that the BNTU will call another emergency meeting, but as you heard from the President, he said that they should be grateful that the Union even gave them any notice at all.