By Saskia Warrick
Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, has raised concerns about the salary increase proposal put forth by the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), emphasizing that while the welfare of teachers is a priority for the government, certain demands from the union appear unreasonable.
The Minister highlighted that while the Ministry maintains a healthy relationship with the GTU, it questioned the proposed salary increases and the timeframe over which they were requested.
The GTU sought a 20% increase from 2019 to 2023, a demand that was declined during discussions on Tuesday.
Minister Manickchand pointed out that schools were closed from 2020 to April 2022 due to the pandemic, yet the government continued to pay teachers during this period.
Additionally, she mentioned that the Ministry has been meeting with the union monthly, implementing some of their proposals and introducing various interventions to benefit teachers.
In other updates, Minister Manickchand announced that preparations for the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) are well underway.
Mock exams are scheduled to commence to assess any gaps or challenges that may need to be addressed, considering the prolonged absence of students from classrooms due to the pandemic.
Mock examinations for English and Science for Grades 1 and 2 will take place on Thursday, while exams for Science and Mathematics are set for Friday.
This update reflects the government’s commitment to addressing the needs of teachers while also ensuring the effective implementation of educational assessments and programs for students.