“No show” teachers in riverine communities will not be paid – REDO
Regional Education Officer (REDO) of Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) Marcia Paddy Andrews said teachers in the region who were assigned posts at areas along the Berbice River will be replaced and not paid if they do not occupy those posts by January next year. Speaking on Thursday, Paddy Andrews said a meeting was held with the “no show” teachers on Wednesday where they were informed of this development.
Region 10 Regional Education Officer, Marcia Paddy Andrews
“We would have met with them yesterday and we gave them up to January when schools reopen to be replaced. They were told if they don’t report by January we will cease to pay them,” she noted.
Just last month, the REDO spoke on the issue of teachers’ refusal to work in riverine areas across the region, while addressing Education Commission Chairman Ed Caesar and Councillors of the Regional Democratic Council at a consultation.
She had highlighted issues whereby teachers in Linden refused to go to remote areas to teach, highlighting cases where medical conditions are often used as excuses. Paddy Andrews said there are instances where teachers are assigned to riverine areas, more so the Berbice River areas but are not occupying their posts.
“As soon as they are called they come with a document stating that they have a hole in their heart, asthmatic problems, back problems… you name it… and these documents are being signed by the Mackenzie Hospital Complex”. In addition, Paddy Andrews said there are some schools which do not have a full complement of staff while there is the issue of over staffing at Linden.
“We are seeking permission to have persons shuffled. For example, Christiansburg has fallen greatly. We are now at 131 but have 16 teachers… So we have those schools where the number has fallen and so we have to shuffle around staff,” she said. (Utamu Bell)
