“Corresponding results” must be seen with teachers who benefit from scholarships – Manickchand

– TSC processing over 1200 applications for senior positions

Resources are being expended by the current Administration to invest in higher education for teachers within the education system in Guyana, and this must be supported with corresponding results in classrooms.
This was the position shared by Education Minister Priya Manickchand at an event on Monday, where she pointed out that as teachers benefit from scholarships to upgrade their educational portfolio, it must reflect in their output performance.

Manickchand asserted, “All of our teachers will be trained for the first time in the country. People are being offered scholarships at no cost to themselves to study in foreign universities for their PhDs and Master’s and degrees. With all of this investment, we have to see corresponding results.”
She highlighted that many educators have shown their true potential abroad but attention must be placed on the ones who come into the classroom here, especially those without a supportive home.
“Are we moving the needle? Are we moving it from X percentage to a higher percentage at the exit level of primary and secondary? We have to see the corresponding results because if we don’t, then it’s not a technology issue we had. It was a people issue we had. And I know my people. You’re capable of functioning all over this world when you leave. So, you’ve got to function here for your children…and mine.”
In demanding accountability, she reasoned, “Too much is at stake here for us to manage this lazily, complacently, to waste effort that went into getting this done, both vision-wise as well as cash investment.”
Currently, the Ministry is aiming to have 100 per cent trained teachers by 2025. Those teachers who are close to retirement are being given leeway given their age and years of service remaining. But Manickchand said the Ministry will be hitting the brakes on those who are in the profession without any formal training.
She noted, “If you’re almost done, we might look at it a little bit differently, because it doesn’t make sense to train someone for four years and then they retire a year later.”
Last year, it was reported that more than 1200 teachers are receiving training for free under the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) scholarships at the Master’s and PhD levels. This year, $1.8 million was allocated in the 2023 National Budget towards advancing the programme.
Additionally, trainee teachers are benefitting from a full salary now, as opposed to a $10,000 stipend. The matter of salary increases for teachers is being dealt with by the Office of the President. Recently, the Government also approved salary adjustments for teachers who were being paid below their minimum applicable scale.
Meanwhile, Secretary of the Teaching Service Commission, Ray Bassoo on Monday informed that some 1218 senior teachers applied for various vacancies and are awaiting confirmation from the entity. This process is ongoing.
“We are in the senior promotion process of which 1218 teachers applied for various vacancies. A teacher can have 10 different preferences. That represents about 12,000 applications.” (G-12)