ST. JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbuda — The government continues to face difficulty recruiting teachers and police officers willing to work in Barbuda, Prime Minister Gaston Browne has acknowledged.

Browne raised the issue while responding to concerns about a shortage of teachers at the Barbuda Secondary School, including the reported need for a mathematics teacher.

“In all fairness, it has been a challenge getting policemen and teachers to work in Barbuda,” Browne said during his weekly radio programme.

He said the recruitment problem affects both islands but is particularly acute in Barbuda, where the smaller population produces fewer qualified residents in those professions.

Browne did not disclose the number of vacant teaching or police positions in Barbuda or identify the steps being taken to attract workers from Antigua or elsewhere.

The shortage of a mathematics teacher at the secondary school was raised publicly shortly before the start of the new school term.

Browne said the difficulty sourcing mathematics teachers is not new and has affected schools across Antigua and Barbuda.

“I’ve always had an issue with attracting math teachers in both islands,” he said, adding that the problem has been especially challenging in Barbuda.

The prime minister said Barbuda MP Trevor Walker and the Barbuda Council could also assist with identifying suitable teachers instead of treating the shortage solely as a political issue.

However, responsibility for ensuring that public schools are adequately staffed ultimately rests with the government and education authorities.

Recruitment difficulties in Barbuda can be complicated by the need for workers to relocate, secure accommodation and adjust to the island’s smaller community and limited services.

Police staffing is also important because officers assigned to Barbuda must maintain a continuous law-enforcement presence and respond to emergencies across the island.

Browne did not announce any additional incentives, housing assistance or special allowances to encourage teachers and police officers to accept postings in Barbuda.

He also gave no timetable for filling the mathematics vacancy or other outstanding positions.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Antigua and Barbuda Still Struggling to Recruit Teachers and Police Officers for Barbuda.