“I have never seen so much improvement” in education system – former GTU Pres Dr Mark Lyte

Former President of the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) Dr Mark Lyte says in his more than thirty years as an educator he has never seen so much development in the education sector as he has experienced over the past five years.
He took the opportunity to address some of the transformative initiatives implemented in the education sector which has brought about massive improvements over the last three and a half years. According to Dr Lyte, not only have grades been improved but the welfare of both teachers and students also.
Focusing on the infrastructural development in the education sector, Dr Lyte noted that it was not only physical enhancement of school buildings and the establishment of new schools but also improvements within the learning infrastructure.
“Classrooms are now being upgraded. Schools are now being upgraded. Students are now enjoying the opportunity to play in their schools on tarmacs and other facilities that are made possible through the Government’s effort, and I believe it’s testimony of the hard work, not only of the members of the Ministry of Education, but by extension the Government at large, and I want to say to all of us present, in person and under the sound of my voice, that where there is progress we must allow progress to continue,” he declared. Dr Lyte said based on what he is seeing in the education sector, there will be continued improvement.
“We must never stand in the midst of progress because what we see over the last few years is only going to get better. We’ve already seen the number of new schools that have been built across Guyana and the Honourable Minister of Education in the last four weeks would have been opening several schools across Guyana; and this is testimony to the Government’s priority to provide education for our learners, better learning facilities and more so better trained teachers. All across Guyana our teachers are now being trained to become professionals in the classroom,” he testified.
Among some of these initiatives is the school feeding programme. Guyana’s National School Feeding Programme has grown into a cornerstone of the country’s education and nutrition strategy. Initially launched in the hinterland regions as a community based initiative around 2006–2007 with support from the World Bank and the Global Partnership for Education, it aimed to improve attendance, learning outcomes, and nutritional status among Amerindian children by involving local communities in food production and meal delivery.
Evaluations showed measurable gains—attendance rose by roughly 4 per cent, stunting declined in participating schools, and academic scores improved significantly for those receiving meals. Over time, the programme expanded nationwide, offering juice and biscuits, breakfast, cassava bread snacks and hot meals across nursery and primary levels, particularly in hinterland and coastal regions. Government funding surged—from about $2 billion in 2022 (serving roughly 12,400 students) to $ 2.1 billion in 2023 (benefiting over 85,000 students), then $ 4.9 billion in 2024 (reaching approximately 126,000 students), and most recently $ 5.5 billion in the 2025 budget, aimed at extending its reach to even more children across the country.
The former GTU President also commented on the cash grant being given to schools, which is separate to the cash grants received by children and their parents.
“This cash grant that is given to each school is based on the number of children in the school multiplied by a specific figure that gives teachers an opportunity to go off and buy their own materials to service their classes. And when you go into schools today you are seeing classrooms that are learner friendly because teachers have gone out there and used the resources provided by this Government to better enhance their classrooms,” Lyte explained.
“We no longer rely on the Regional Democratic Council to provide those resources. Teachers can now go out and buy what they need for their classrooms. And that speaks testimony of the work this Government has done. Not only listening but they have stepped forward and done what is required so that the educational level of the nation’s people can improve. And further to that ladies and gentlemen, comrades all, we now have the GOAL (Guyana Online Academy of Learning) Scholarship. And the GOAL Scholarship, if you don’t know, provides an opportunity for school dropouts to get a second chance,” he added.
Lyte warned of the dangers of putting the education system in the hands of persons who cannot be trusted and who do not understand progress.
“Right now, there are all kinds of plans being rolled out without any proper consideration. Everybody is talking about what they will give and how they will give that and what they will give. We have to think about giving with a sustainable plan. And that is what this present administration has done. They have not only provided for the nation’s people, they have done what they thought can be sustainable,” Dr Lyte pointed out.