the Education Ministry has indicated that it is prepared to have discussion with the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) to address the challenges faced by public school teachers, specifically the recent allegations of ill treatment meted out by Regional Education Officers (REOs).
This was according to Chief Education Officer Olato Sam, who informed Guyana Times on Monday during a telephone interview that the Ministry is open to discussions with the Union to have the cases raised and analysed so that solutions can be derived.
This came as the union and teachers are protesting the ill treatment of public school teachers, who are reportedly being harassed by their REOs in Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and 10 (Upper
Olato Sam
Demerara-Berbice).
However, he additionally reported that thus far, the Ministry has not received any reports by the Union with regard to the issues raised by the teachers at the Union’s conference last week.
“They never actually brought these reports to the Ministry’s attention. The Union could bring the cases and we will have those addressed but so far, they haven’t done that,” Sam affirmed.
The Chief Education Officer further stated that the there are specific dates on which the Union meets with the Ministry to have current issues discussed and addressed, noting that the GTU is welcomed to have the current matter presented at the meeting.
Following a meeting last week between public school teachers and the GTU, the topic of ill treatment by REOs was brought to the fore for discussion.
According to the Union during an interview with this publication last week, the teachers had vented their frustration at the manner in which the Region Three and Region 10 REOs were running the education sector of those regions and violating the rights of teachers, as well as being disrespectful.
On the list of issues affecting the teachers due to the inefficiency of the REOs, who are placed in the position by the Ministry to overlook the educational affairs of the various administrative regions, was the manner in which teachers are spoken, to as well as the lack of proper communication to discuss matters.
Matters relating to leave passage and transferrals to other departments and schools were also raised at the meeting. The Union had described this nature of action against the teachers as being “worst than slavery.”
The teachers had indicated that this is not only a burden to them in terms of a reduction in their productivity level, but also for the students who will be indirectly affected by the ill treatment.
As such, the Union appealed to the Education Ministry to immediately intervene so that the ill treatment against the teachers could be eliminated.
Meanwhile, REO of Region Three, Penelope Mackintosh, had denied having knowledge of information pertaining to the issue. She had informed that she is oblivious to the allegations and had not gotten reports about the administration being fingered in the matter.
All attempts to contact Region’s 10 REO were futile since she was out of office.
