World Teachers’ Day: “Your value is not lost on us” – Education Minister

“Your value is not lost on us. Your value is not lost on this nation,” were the words of the Education Minister, Priya Manickchand as she addressed teachers and headteachers on Tuesday during a luncheon held in their honour.
In observance of World Teachers’ Day, the Education Ministry hosted a luncheon for teachers and headteachers from various levels. Manickchand reminded teachers that their value to the nation would never go unnoticed.
“I believe strongly the nation knows your commitment and knows how special teachers are,” Manickchand is quoted as saying to the gathering of educators.
Manickchand said that if ever the value of teachers was in doubt, the last year and a half proved that they possessed a special skill and art in what they do to educate the nation’s children. “Teaching is a calling, a calling that you have responded to and an art that you have developed over the years,” she remarked.
Further, she said, “This value is not lost on us. I want you to understand that at the level of the Ministry, that we understand your value. We know in the Ministry how valuable you are.”
She said that teachers and the Education Ministry together have a duty to take the standard of education in Guyana higher and higher every year so that better and better results could be achieved.
The Education Minister said that she was happy that such a day was set aside to honour teachers, and said that she hoped teachers across the country used the day to reflect on how important they were to every child.
She said that teachers could make a difference between children living a life of comfort or continuing to live in poverty as an adult.

Additionally, she pledged that teachers would see improved relations from the Ministry. She said that this would not be achieved with a ‘big stick’ approach, but rather one where guidance was given to improve standards and levels of engagement.
Chief Education Officer, Dr Marcel Hutson told teachers they were valued as professionals and also for the difference they make in the lives of children.
During his remarks, Dr Hutson recalled how teachers made a difference in his life by encouraging him to work towards achieving a better life than he was exposed to as a youth. He said that every child is born gifted and teachers have the responsibility to nurture the gifts in every child so that they can reach their full potential.
During the luncheon, Francesca Vieira was honoured for giving 50 years of service to the education sector. Also, teachers Malkia Payne of The Bishops’ High School and Candida Williams of Queen’s College were honoured for writing the Portuguese curriculum, which began in April 2013. They trained teachers and prepared material to teach the subject in schools.
According to Manickchand, it is because of the work of these teachers that the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) is now offering Portuguese at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams across the Caribbean. The subject was first written in 2017, with Guyana obtaining an 89 per cent pass rate. She said that this was a representation of what persons were capable of doing when given the platform to deliver.