GTU defends Rosignol teacher in corporal punishment claim – Rosignol Primary row

…as tuition payment allegation remains unanswered

The Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) has publicly defended a teacher of Rosignol Primary School against allegations of corporal punishment but has remained silent on claims that the same teacher was allegedly collecting money from parents to provide extra tuition during regular class time while being paid by the state. In a statement, the union said an internal inquiry conducted in November 2025 found no evidence that the teacher had struck pupils, noting that all 25 children in the class reportedly denied being physically punished. The Union further stated that parents who attended the inquiry praised the teacher’s dedication, while the welfare officer also reported that pupils expressed respect for the educator. However, while strongly defending the teacher on the issue of corporal punishment, the union did not address allegations that the teacher was demanding or accepting money from parents to provide additional tuition to pupils during regular school hours. In its report, Guyana Times highlighted complaints from parents who claimed they were pressured to pay for extra lessons for their children in a setting where education is meant to be provided free of charge under the public school system. Parents expressed concern that children whose families could not afford the payments were allegedly disadvantaged in the classroom. That aspect of the report was not acknowledged or rebutted in the Union’s response. Education stakeholders have since noted that while corporal punishment is a serious allegation requiring investigation, so too is any claim that a teacher is charging parents for academic instruction during official school hours, especially when the teacher is already being compensated by the government. Under the Ministry of Education policy, teachers are prohibited from soliciting or accepting payments from parents for instruction delivered during the school day. Any form of private tutoring conducted during official hours is considered a breach of professional ethics and public service regulations. The GTU’s response is being questioned, as it did not clarify whether the tuition allegation was investigated, dismissed, confirmed or referred to the Ministry for disciplinary review.
The union’s statement instead focused largely on defending the teacher’s character, recounting her dedication to pupils and criticising the conduct of the complainant parent. While those issues were outlined, the response did not address whether the Ministry of Education had examined financial practices within the classroom. Parents interviewed by this publication maintained that their concern was never limited to corporal punishment but extended to what they viewed as unfair academic treatment linked to payment.
The Ministry of Education has not yet issued a public statement on the Rosignol Primary matter, and it remains unclear whether a formal probe has been launched into the tuition allegations. While the Teachers’ Union has defended the teacher against accusations of physical abuse, parents argue that professional accountability must extend beyond corporal punishment to include ethical standards, fairness and adherence to public service rules. The situation at Rosignol Primary has therefore reopened a wider national discussion about oversight in schools, the boundaries between private tutoring and public education, and the responsibility of authorities to protect both teachers and pupils through transparent and balanced investigations.