By Radha Motielall
As the strike organized by the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) enters its third day, some headteachers have opted to remain on the job, prioritizing the education of their students.
Among them are Sheikh Ahmad, Headmaster of Essequibo Islands Secondary School, and Shandrina Welcome-Lee, Headmistress of The Bishops’ High School, who shared their reasons for their decision.
Sheikh Ahmad, speaking to NCN, emphasized his family’s legacy of not participating in strike actions, citing his father’s position as a former headmaster and GTU president.
Similarly, Shandrina Welcome-Lee expressed her commitment to her principles, stating that she cannot walk away from her students after 26 years in her career.
Ahmad highlighted his assessment of the GTU leadership’s credibility as another reason for not joining the strike, questioning the union’s utilization of funds from 2020 to 2022.
Both headteachers emphasized that while participating in the strike is a personal choice, their students’ welfare remains paramount.
They also noted that the dialogue between the union and the ministry did not break down entirely, suggesting that pulling teachers out of school might not have been necessary.
They expressed the view that the GTU’s approach to addressing issues needs reevaluation.
The strike initiated by the GTU began on Monday, with the government asserting that it has fulfilled 60 percent of the agreements and deeming the strike illegal.