All Teachers are Underpaid

Sep 24, 2023 Letters

Dear Editor,

Why is the Government indulging in the pretence that the only problem with teachers’ remuneration is that some are being paid below the minimal of the relevant scales? How could any employer admit to the staff and public such a simple arithmetic miscalculation by salary clerks; while at the same time complaining of poor performance in mathematics classes in schools?

In the circumstances, it may be useful for both teachers and students amongst others, to note some aspects of the salary structure, which have existed since the colonial era and as reflected in the 2023 Budget approved by Parliament.

Scales

The schedule in the Budget of 2023 indicates 20 substantive ‘scales’ – ranging from TS1 to TS 19, then TS20 bolded as SPECIAL, but carrying only a MAXIMUM of $384,631.
Of the earlier 19 ‘scales’, the following are subdivided:
TS1(A) to TS1(D), but like SPECIAL, each only carry a Maximum. These four Maximums range from $85,727 to $111,957.

The next higher scale consists of TS2(A), (B), and (C). To note: the Minimum of TS2(A) is $91,603, while the Maximum of TS2(C) is $113,995, resulting in an impressive leap of $22,392.

Next, while the Maximum of TS3 is $151,991, the Minimum of TS4 is $159,154.
Not inconsistently, TS5 is constructed of the following Scales:

TS5 (A) – $176,007 – $190,968

(B) – $181,065 – $195,691

(B1) – $177,831 – $192,458

Note the consistency among the following:

TS6 – $181,941 – $201,792

TS7(A) – $186,025 – $200,906

TS8(A) – $203,380 – $223,226

TS8(B) – $205,866 – $220,751

TS14 – $262,915 – $296,896

TS15 – $272,840 – $292,864

Opportunity should be taken to address these palpable contradictions and to compensate appropriately those affected (over the preceding decades), albeit with the help of the Guyana Teachers’ Union and appropriately qualified mathematics students. In any case from the perspective of the Schedule of Salary in the Teaching Service approved in the 2023 Budget, all are underpaid.

In the circumstances, the risk is being taken to extract from 2020 documentation what may well be the current categories of Teachers, but possibly subject to correction:

TS1 – Pupil Teachers; Acting Teachers

TS2 – Temporary (Unqualified/Qualified) Masters

TS3 – Temporary Qualified; Assistant Lecturer-GTI, NATI; Instructor 1 – GITC, CSHE, LTI

TS4 – Non-Graduate Senior

TS5 – TS7 Non-Graduate Head; Senior Master; Untrained; Non-Graduate Deputy

TS8 – TS14 Trained Graduate; Non-Graduate Head; Graduate Head; Senior Assistant Master; Graduate Senior Master; Deputy Head

TS15 – Chief Lecturer – CPCE, GTI, NATI, LTI, GITC; Deputy Principal

TS16 – TS18 Graduate Heads – Grades C, B, A

TS19 – Graduate Head of Sixth Form Schools; Vice Principal – CPCE, NATI; Deputy Principal GTI, LTI; Principal CSHE; Administrator – GITC

SPECIAL Principal – CPCE, GTI, NATI, LTI

Regards,

E.B John

E.B. John, Government, miscalculation, performance, remuneration

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