Contracted teachers to travel with ease with new waiver system

Teachers on contract will be able to travel freely following the waiver of the requirement to present proof of asset or money.
Chief Education Officer Saddam Hussain dispatched a letter to all Regional Education Officers across the country, informing them of this change.
The Education Ministry’s policy required that teachers who are on contract must apply for permission to leave the country at least six weeks before they travel. In addition, contracted teachers must provide a transport/title, cash or guarantor which acts as surety that he or she will return.
In the case where a guarantor is needed, he or she must be a senior teacher above the age of 45 years and must have at least three years of service remaining. With the current arrangement, there are instances where teachers find it difficult to meet the requirements to be allowed to travel.
With immediate effect, the Ministry said all contracted teachers, whether they are travelling or not, must request from the Human Resources Department of the Ministry, a waiver letter to travel without restriction.
Requests can be made in person or through email at [email protected]. Henceforth, transport/title, cash or guarantor are no longer required. On receiving the waiver letter, the teacher must submit same to the Immigration Department to have it signed and stamped. This waiver letter will allow the teacher to travel out of Guyana during the duration of his or her contract.
Teachers in possession of a waiver letter must still adhere to the previously established guidelines when travelling, which states that they must inform their Department of Education of their intention to travel, their departure date, and their resumption date at least 10 days before they travel.
Additionally, the Departments of Education must communicate its decision to the teacher within five days after receipt of application. If a teacher is unable to resume duty as approved due to unforeseen circumstances, the teacher must communicate in writing prior to the date of resumption.
Any teacher who does not return within the stipulated time and does not communicate in writing prior to the date of resumption, will have his or her salary withheld, and deduction will be made for unauthorised absence.
The correspondence noted that Head Teachers are required to inform the Department of Education within three working days of the non-resumption of teachers who were granted permission to travel. (G12)