Lead Editor-Newsgathering
Some teachers across the country have started to receive the long-awaited $900 million in backpay.
The Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) said yesterday that it had received reports from members that their backpay for salaries covering 2020 to 2023 had been represented on the IHIRIS platform, which allows public officers to view their payslips online.
However, TTUTA president Crystal Ashe said neither the Ministry of Finance nor the Ministry of Education had formally communicated with the association about the payments.
“No formal communication has been received by the Association to date (Saturday, September 12, 2026) from either officials of the Ministry of Finance or Ministry of Education,” TTUTA said in a media release signed by Ashe.
Ashe told Guardian Media earlier yesterday he had confirmed rumours of backpay being paid out, but the association has now made clear that its information is coming from its membership rather than from the Government.
Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo, when contacted, had nothing to say on whether payments were being made. He said only via WhatsApp, “Statement to be made on this and other issues on Wednesday at Parliament.”
A senior Ministry of Education source also could not confirm the payments, but said teams had been working overtime, including on weekends, over the past few weeks.
TTUTA had previously said about $900 million was allocated in the 2025 national budget to cover teachers’ outstanding backpay.
The reports from teachers come after months of uncertainty over when the payments would be made.
As recently as last Monday, Ashe appeared on CNC3’s The Morning Brew and said TTUTA had been seeking a definitive date from the Government.
“Just two weeks ago, we wrote three letters, one to the Minister of Finance to find out some clarity, give us a definitive date with respect to the payment. Where has it reached? How far along is it?” he said then.
TTUTA had also written to Education Minister Dr Michael Dowlath and Chief Personnel Officer Dr Daryl Dindial.
Ashe said Dindial was the only one to respond, calling him directly and saying he had spoken with the Permanent Secretary and that arrangements were being made for payment in September.
But Ashe said he was reluctant to tell teachers that the payment was definite based only on that assurance.
“I said I appreciate the phone call. I appreciate you telling me this, but we’ve been there, done that already,” he said.
“We’ve been to this point where you would give me information and then it wouldn’t come to fruition and I can’t take that and run to my membership.”
The union had previously said teachers were expecting payment after the Government committed to begin disbursing the arrears in July 2025.
“July came and educators received nothing. December came, nothing. January came, nothing,” Ashe said.
The uncertainty deepened earlier this year when Finance Minister Tancoo indicated during the Mid-Year Budget Review that the outstanding payments would be made in fiscal 2027, raising fears that teachers would have to wait even longer.
TTUTA said the reports now coming from teachers that the backpay is appearing on IHIRIS represent a significant development.
“The fact that payments are now being made at the end of this fiscal year (2026) is a direct reflection of the continued advocacy and pressure brought to bear on both the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Education by TTUTA and, most importantly, by the membership,” the association said.
The Ministry of Finance had previously said technical processes were required to determine the exact amounts owed to individual teachers.
TTUTA said it would continue pressing the Government on other outstanding issues affecting educators, including school infrastructure and safety, the renewal of contracts for Business Operations Assistants and the reintroduction of the Employee Assistance Programme.
Ministry orders security works after San Juan North break-in
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has responded to TTUTA’s concerns about safety at San Juan North Secondary School by ordering emergency works to strengthen the school’s rear perimeter following Thursday’s break-in. The ministry said MTS had been engaged to address an identified vulnerability, while its safety unit reviews security protocols and assesses whether further measures are needed.
