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GTU intensifies efforts for teachers’ benefits
The Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) has embarked on a process of further implementing and intensifying efforts to enhance the lives of teachers.
According to the Union’s newly elected President, Mark Lyte, several issues that will positively influence the development of teachers were discussed during the recently concluded Biennial Delegates Conference.
GTU’s President,
Mark Lyte
“The Guyana Teachers’ Union currently has over 7,000 financial members from various parts of the country, for whom we have the responsibility of ensuring improvements in their employment, including their salary and other benefits.”
“The general perception is that teachers are grossly underpaid. However while there are calls for increases in salaries, teachers are still deprived of other benefits such as duty free concessions, no interest loans for the Housing Revolving Funds and ‘Debunching,’ which is basically paying teachers according to their qualification and experience,” Lyte said.
The Union is committed to ensuring that teachers receive their general benefits, he added.
“Although there has been some amount of progress in certain areas, as the new President, I will be taking steps in the direction of ensuring tangible and positive changes are made by the end of this year, especially in terms of the no interest loans, from which no teacher has benefitted because the financial institutions have not been forthcoming in assisting with the process,” he added.
The Guyana’s Teachers’ Union fourth Biennial Conference was held last month; the five-year Memorandum of Understanding, (MOU) between GTU and Education Ministry concerning the terms and conditions of employment of teachers were reviewed.
Some of the issues included the five per cent increase in salaries for all categories of teachers, increased remuneration for improved qualifications, house lots for teachers, return air/bus fare at the end of each term for coastland teachers serving in the hinterland, leave allowance, scholarships for teachers to attend the University of Guyana, review of class size per teacher ratio and review of performances of school boards.
During the sessions, new proposals were made for the future. Allowances for teachers who work in special education schools, and increased pension for retired teachers, were included in these proposals.
This year’s conference was held under the theme “Professional Attributes Among Teachers and Promoting Inclusive Education.”
During the Congress calls were made for the relevant stakeholders to put adequate systems in place to promote inclusive education. It is imperative for teachers to be exposed to and engage in continued training, which will assist them in educating students, especially those with special needs.
It was also noted that teachers need to be further engaged in activities, which will strengthen their interpersonal, leadership and organizational skills.
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