The Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) is urging the nation’s teachers to remain home despite the Ministry of Education mandating them to return to school to prepare Grades Six and Eleven students for the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) and Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) exams.
Teachers were expected to return to school today (Monday, June 8, 2020) to begin preparing classrooms for the exams. Students are expected to be at school for June 15.
In a statement this morning, the GTU said that the body’s General Council decided not to support the MOE’s plan to conduct classes and examinations during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The decision was based on the fact that Guyana’s situation remains fluid with positive cases still being recorded.
“To this end, teachers are advised to remain in the safety of their homes and continue to give virtual support to learners as they finalize their preparations for their respective examination. There should be no sense of guilt felt by any teacher since the union’s recommendations to have these examinations written at a later date fell on deaf ears,” the statement advised.
GTU said they remain committed to the development of Guyana by way of an educated nation, but cannot risk the lives of its dedicated educators, their families as well as students.
“Further, we remind every teacher that victimization measures will be resisted in the strongest possible way by GTU. Your union will fight to uphold the right to life for every member. We urge that you remain safe and continue to follow the health protocols established by WHO and supported by the Ministry of Public Health here in Guyana,” the GTU said.
NGSA is slated for July 1 and 2.
Since mid-March, 252 nursery, 453 primary, 139 secondary schools along with other technical vocational and special education centres have remained closed.
