Latest update November 23rd, 2024 1:00 AM
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GTU President highlights hindrances to teachers’ empowerment
—as World Teachers’ Day is observed
The entire world yesterday celebrated the contribution of teachers to nation building under the common theme, “Empowering Teachers, Building Sustainable Societies.”
GTU President,
Mr Mark Lyte
But according to President of the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU), Mr. Mark Lyte, there are many hindrances to the true empowerment of teachers. He pointed to the fact that while “The theme clearly highlights the crucial role teachers perform towards nation building, the call is made for teachers to be empowered in order to build sustainable societies.”
He therefore underscored that while the call is made for governments around the world to empower teachers, here in Guyana there still remains an urgent need to empower teachers who have significantly contributed towards the building of “our great and potentially prosperous nation.”
Lyte sought to emphasise that Guyanese teachers have made an indelible mark the world over even as he asserted that “We have produced scholars for almost every country in the world. It started right here in our local classrooms.”
He speculated that the decision by many scholars to leave Guyana’s shore was due to the lack of recognition from governments over the years.
The GTU President however, asserted that there have been many dedicated teachers who have opted to remain in on these shores to do what they know best – teach.
“How do we empower these dedicated men and women who remain to serve and build our society? There is no better way to empower our teachers than to treat us with respect,” stressed Lyte.
The rights of teachers could be respected, he noted, if their lives are less burdensome through the provision of better facilities, equipment and better salaries. “Treat us professionally, honour agreements signed, consult us before deciding on policies etc.,” appealed Lyte as he underscored that teachers have worked above and beyond the call of duty to help build this nation. But according to him, teachers in Guyana are seldom recognized for their contribution to nation building.
“We have worked in some of the poorest conditions as well as with the lowest salary offered among Caribbean teachers, yet we mould our students to outperform our Caribbean counterparts. Let us salute our teachers for a job well done,” he insisted.
He however observed that not many efforts are made to acknowledge teachers’ contributions. “Kudos to those Regional Education Departments that are making an effort to change this phenomenon…We should organize more ceremonies to recognize the hardworking teachers across Guyana,” said Lyte, as noted that the success of students is definitely due to the efforts put in by teachers.
Lyte is convinced that teachers will certainly be motivated to give more than they have already been giving to Guyana, hence creating the sustainable society that is envisioned.
As such, the GTU President urged that World Teachers’ Day should be an occasion to remind all stakeholders in education, especially the policymakers that more needs to be done in order to truly build a sustainable nation.
Lyte also made a plug yesterday for teachers to be paid outstanding debunching money that was assured them by the previous governing administration – the People’s Progressive Party/Civic. Debunching pay was proposed as a way for teachers to be paid on the basis of their position and years of service. This therefore means that a recently trained teacher would not be on the same pay scale as a teacher trained 10 years earlier. “Having recognized that our nation can only be built if teachers are empowered, I call on the Government of Guyana to honour our de-bunching monies, which was promised to us since 2011,” Lyte appealed.
According to him, the GTU is hopeful that “better days are ahead…that true empowerment of teachers will be realized since the nation’s sustenance directly depends on us teachers.”
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