Cabinet to deliberate on teachers’ salary increase – Education Minister

… says decision within a month

Negotiations that were done during a meeting with the high-level task force some time ago to determine whether or not teachers will be entitled to an increase in their salaries is now at the hands of Cabinet.
This was according to Education Minister Nicolette Henry, who earlier this week informed media operatives that recommendations were made during the discussion and these were submitted to her for initial evaluation. However, the final resolution will be made after the matter is debated at the level of Cabinet.
“The High-Level Task Force of Public Education met and they would’ve made some recommendations in so far as emoluments are related to teachers. That was one of the many issues that was discussed, and they would’ve submitted to me a document which I have reviewed and which I will have to discuss with my Cabinet colleagues as the subject Minister.
She explained that other factors surrounding the increase were also raised and were therefore considered before the initial document was crafted.
“Prior to that discussion of course, we had to look at the feasibility based on what was proposed and so there were several instances of back and forth with the High-Level Task Force. Cabinet, I suppose, will be able to make an announcement which many will be able to benefit from in a month’s time. ”
She noted that while the increase in wages was an important aspect of the discussion, several other issues were highlighted, and recommendations were accordingly made. Again, it was recorded that a response will be made within the period of a month.
“It’s much more than salary issues. Coming out of that process, there would be a number of recommendations that we would’ve found favour with and so we intend to move with that in the shortest possible time. Speaking in terms of relativeness, I will say we will see something in about a month’s time or thereabout.”
Earlier in April, the High-Level Task Force was engaged in a meeting, whereby the factors affecting teachers were discussed, with the possibility of them receiving an increase in their monthly salaries. However, in May, it was revealed that the matter was within the remit of the Finance Ministry.
The original proposal suggested by the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) called for a 50 per cent increase for 2018 and the next two years.