Parents should make judgement about children’s safety – GTU

Low school attendance

As a result of the tension following the delayed announcement of Guyana’s elections result, many schools have recorded low attendance, with some even closing their doors after no attendance.

Parents, particularly in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), have made the dire decision to keep their children at home, to guarantee their safety during the politically tense atmosphere.
Following the General and Regional Elections on Monday, Principals of schools across Georgetown reported that there has been a serious decline in the attendance of students at their institutions.
President of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), Mark Lyte expressed deep concern for the safety of teachers and students. Lyte has since said that even though teachers are present in schools to work, parents are keeping their children at home.
Lyte added that upon resumption of classes when the situation returns to normal in Guyana, teachers will have a heavy workload as they would have to catch up with the lessons they missed.
Meanwhile, two major examinations, the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and the National Grade Six examinations are scheduled for next month.
With the protests and tautness across the country, the GTU President is urging teachers to be cognisant of their surroundings.
Lyte said if this situation persists, the GTU will have to make dire decisions to make sure that the county’s educators are safe.
His advice to parents was: “I would advise that you pay attention to what is happening, be careful and do not follow fake news…if you feel that your children will be unsafe attending school, let them keep them home until such time.”
He added that he is hoping that the leaders of the various political parties speak to their supporters so that they will remain peaceful and calm.