Minister Parag demands teachers account for absenteeism

Sep 30, 2025 News

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…GTU says accountability must be mutual

Kaieteur News – Since her appointment as Minister of Education, Sonia Parag has been carrying out a series of impromptu school visits, where she observed a troubling trend of high teacher absenteeism.

In response, the minister called for greater accountability among educators, urging them to be present in classrooms to ensure effective learning takes place.

However, president of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), Coretta McDonald, emphasised that accountability should not rest solely on teachers. She argued that the education ministry must also demonstrate responsibility and fulfill its obligations to the nation’s educators.

In an interview with News Room on Monday, Minister Parag revealed that during her unannounced visits, she found several classrooms completely unattended by teachers. She said she was particularly alarmed by one school where as many as 12 teachers were absent during school hours. “While you have headmasters and headmistresses trying their best to pull classes together, in one particular school I went to, 12 teachers hadn’t shown up for the term as yet. One class was asleep at their desks, all of them, because they didn’t have a teacher to teach them for that particular subject,” the minister explained.

Based on her observations, Minister Parag stressed that accountability must be enforced for teachers who are frequently absent and unaccounted for by their superiors. “If you don’t have teachers in the classroom teaching, then the child doesn’t learn. It’s as simple as that. Teachers must be held accountable for being present in the classroom, and they have to be accountable for what they are teaching in the classroom when the day comes,” she explained.

Parag also urged teachers to take punctuality and presence seriously, underscoring the role they play in children’s educational life. “I’m asking teachers to show up for their children. Show up for your children.  Show up not just because you have to. Show up not just because it’s a job, but show up because it’s one of the most important things you will ever do in your life. But I, as your education minister, will give you all of my support to be able to build and develop the education sector in Guyana,” she said.

In a separate interview with Kaieteur News on Monday, Minister Parag confirmed that she inquired into the reasons behind the teachers’ absences. “Yes, I did. I was told that two of the teachers reported sick,” she said. However, she pointed out that the majority of the absentees were unaccounted for. “Some of them didn’t indicate anything regarding their absence. Two or so were sick, and for a few others, the headteachers could not indicate a reason or their absence,” she said.

While acknowledging the dedication and contributions of teachers to the education system, Parag noted that accountability is necessary for those who consistently fail to attend classes. “Teachers are valuable, and we do value them. They have done wonders in the school system, but you have some teachers who are not showing up and we have to hold them accountable because subjects need to be taught, we have preparation for exams and students are looking forward for great results.  We encourage teachers to be in the classrooms and teach. We know that there are instances where somebody may be sick or if there is some emergency that is happening, but to have 12 teachers out for about a week and a half is concerning,” Parag stated.

The minister suggested that schools should develop contingency plans to address absences, particularly for those on leave, to ensure that learning continues uninterrupted. “We encourage schools to work around a schedule, even if teachers are on leave, there must be alternatives, especially since many teachers are being trained now. The fact is, some teachers have been absent since the term began, and some remain unaccounted for.  So, I believe as a headteacher, you have to hold teachers accountable,” Parag stressed.

In response, McDonald, speaking with Kaieteur News, argued that accountability must be reciprocal. While acknowledging that teachers have a duty to fulfil their classroom responsibilities, she said the ministry itself has fallen short in addressing the needs of teachers. She highlighted outstanding payments owed to teachers, issues surrounding compensation for marking School-Based Assessments (SBAs), and poor working and living conditions, particularly in hinterland regions.

McDonald criticised the ministry for failing to honour agreements that teachers be paid $500 per SBA per student. Instead, she explained, the ministry grouped SBA projects and paid teachers $500 per group, which she described as “disrespectful and irresponsible.” She further noted that some teachers face challenges such as inadequate living quarters and unsafe working environments, which also affect their ability to deliver in the classroom.

“Minister Parag is asking for accountability on the part of teachers, but she must also be accountable to teachers,” McDonald told Kaieteur News. “Accountability comes from both sides. I am not saying that out teachers should not be staying away from schools, if you come to do the job, you must do it but the same ministry has in place various benefits that the teachers enjoy. Though teachers are absent, it doesn’t mean that the children are unsupervised and without a teacher. Minister Parag must fix the business of the teachers,” McDonald stressed.

Both Parag and McDonald agreed on the importance of teachers’ roles in shaping the future of the country, but their contrasting positions highlight an ongoing debate: how to balance teacher accountability in the classroom with the ministry’s responsibility to adequately support and respect educators.

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• Absenteeism, accountability, Education Ministry, GTU, teachers

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