President commends teachers for adapting to new norms in COVID-19 crisis

Teachers’ Day was observed worldwide on Monday and President Dr Irfaan Ali has reiterated his Government’s commitment to improving not only access to education but also the lives of the nation’s educators as well.
In his message on World Teachers’ Day, the Head of Stated expressed his profound gratitude to all teachers and educators, past and present, across the length and breadth of Guyana.
“I would also like to use this occasion to assure you that your Government remains steadfast in our mission to improve not only access to education but to also improve the livelihoods of our educators,” President Ali said.
This year’s theme is “Teachers: Leading in crisis, reimagining the future” and according to the President, it is especially significant since the world is coping with the effects of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The pandemic, he related, has placed an immense strain on the education system.
He noted that as the world celebrates teachers, Guyana must take stock of its national achievements and recognise the crucial role teachers play in shaping the nation, even in these challenging times. Ali said that educators have had cause to adapt to new forms of education delivery, and in doing so, they are faced with the ever-present challenge to ensure that no child is left behind.

“As a Government, we are doing our part to ensure that all the support mechanisms are in place to guarantee that our teachers are equipped to succeed. We commit to strengthening our education system and working with our educators to guide them through this uncharted landscape, shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic,” he explained.
In outlining the plans for the improvement of the education sector, the President explained that will be achieved through several robust measures which include the delivery of education safely and effectively using innovative methods, capacity building for teachers through the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), improved access to education in hinterland communities and vulnerable areas and access to online training among other methods.
In the 2020 Budget, the Education Sector was allocated $52 billion to achieve the plans outlined for its development. The PPP/C Government, in its elections manifesto, promised improved access to and quality of education at every level. It also assured of improved remuneration and conditions of service for teachers inclusive of opportunities for training and skills development.

Existing state of affairs
Meanwhile, Education Minister Priya Manickchand said the theme aptly reflects the existing state of affairs and the challenges faced in delivering education amid the COVID-19 pandemic. She recognised the fact that teachers have been placed between a rock and a hard place in relation to finding innovative means of meeting the educational needs of the student population.
“Our education system, like no other time in our history, has had to confront the issues of the digital divide and other related equity concerns in our efforts to ensure every child gets the education they deserve. Leading this mission are our teachers, who in many instances are also parents, and have had to selflessly place the needs of all of our nation’s children as their foremost priority. The countless anecdotes capturing the lengths to which many of our teachers have gone to continue to engage their charges are testaments to the quality of the teaching service we are blessed with in Guyana,” she noted.
Manickchand said that the teachers’ commitment and dedication give her the confidence to forge on and collaborate in efforts to meet the challenges of reimagining and retooling the education sector for the demands of the future. The Minister said that the current situation requires the creation of highly-adaptive learning environments that are responsive to the needs of students and the nation.
It was noted that this demands that the education system incorporate a multiplicity of approaches and adequately equip teachers with the skills, knowledge and resources to effectively deliver.
“As we provide education through the various mediums available to us, the Ministry is supporting Guyana’s teachers by providing opportunities for them to strengthen their overall competence in developing content and delivering through multiple modalities. These professional development experiences will enable them to advance our nation’s efforts in minimising the impact of the pandemic and improving the performance output of the system. Concurrently, we are aligning our education delivery with the changing developmental and future needs of our country,” the Minister explained.
She, like the President, reiterated the Government’s commitment to supporting teachers and ensuring that they receive the recognition they deserve. To achieve that, she signalled partnerships with the Guyana Teachers’ Union, Teaching Service Commission and all stakeholders. (G2)