Region Ten still battling with Education issues

Mar 06, 2018 News

– says Regional Chairman

The Education Department in Region Ten says there is no shortage of teachers, especially in the Upper levels of the Secondary schools but students are refuting this claim.
During the monthly Statutory meeting of the Regional Democratic Council on Thursday, Regional Chairman Rennis Morian, said that sixth form students at the Mackenzie High School have complained that there is a shortage of teachers and that they are concerned because their examinations are just around the corner.
The Chairman said that supervision seems to be the problem for schools in Linden. Morian said that the Region has been battling with Education issues for 20 years.
“No teachers are turning up in the sixth form; there is a crisis. Students are saying they will not write the Mock Exam because they have no content.”
However Regional Education Officer (ag) Ms. Sonia Fraser said that as far as the Department of Education knows there is no shortage of staff in the sixth form.
“We have enough staff and we even have three part-time teachers. What I know is we are still battling to find an effective head teacher because the present one has a lot of deficiencies and no one wants to take up the mantle.”
Fraser also noted that they are caught between a rock and a hard place because the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) cannot discipline the teachers because the school has a board.
APNU Councillor Charles Sampson voiced his disapproval. “Mackenzie High School is supposed to be the premier school in Linden. I am appalled that the teachers can’t be disciplined because there is a board. Where are we going? We will have to take things in hand. The RDC will have to bring discipline and effectiveness to the teachers of MHS.”
Councillor Sampson said he is tired of hearing excuses about the Education system. “Too many complaints! It is as if teachers are not aware of the role that they have to play.”
AFC Councillor, Tracey Johnson, said that focus cannot be placed on MHS alone because there are other issues in other schools. “We should be able to tell the Boards what we want and what we expect from them. Over the past three years, we have seen a deterioration in education but we need to start looking at the head; we need to start looking at the root cause.”
The acting Regional Educational Officer also noted that the Welfare Department is also lacking because there are only two Officers who work to provide service to 65 schools across the Region. Money and transportation are not readily available. Further, the Child Protection Agency does not lend their support.

Deplorable conditions
Chairman of the Education Committee, Denise Belgrave, noted that during her recent visit to Aroaima she noticed that there was a bat infestation in the teachers’ homes and even their clothes has the smell of bats. Belgrave said that it is unhealthy because one teacher has three small children.
Vice Chairman, Elroy Adolph, also said that the teachers’ hostel in Kwakwani is in a deplorable state and nothing is being done. He also lamented the shortage of teachers.
“In our Region, things are not looking nice. Children got to be out, and no teachers, children are suffering.” The Vice Chairman said the houses have to be repaired because you cannot take people from their comfort zone to work under those conditions.
He said it is the Region’s responsibility to look after them. Regional Chairman, Rennis Morian stressed that more money was given to the Region this year for Education and they have to justify why more was given but things are not going right.
“Tables and chairs are also needed. The school at Sand Hills is leaking terribly. The education system in the Berbice River is very terrible.”

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