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GTU bemoans appointment of TSC in absence of opposition leader
(Kaieteur News) – The Guyana Teacher’s Union (GTU) has again raised concerns about the appointment of the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) in the absence of an elected opposition leader.
President, Coretta McDonald on Friday said the teachers union has a responsibility to its members, noting that the appointment of the TSC without consultation or meeting with the opposition leader is direct ploy by the government.
President of the GTU, Coretta McDonald
She stressed that the commission has been reconstituted with the same members and the GTU’s nominee informed the union that he was written to, however the union sought to caution him and highlighted that things are happening without an opposition leader in place.
“But of course, you know what this government will do? As long as you object, then this government will throw the blame card onto the other party to say, “Well, teachers, you know what? your union, they are not representing you.”
In this regard Lancelot Baptiste went ahead to be commissioned as a nominee so that he may be able to represent the interest of teachers across Guyana.
McDonald recently called for a meeting between the officials of the Ministry of Education and the Guyana Teacher’s Union (GTU) to address the appointment of teachers and their promotions.
Addressing the union’s approach to the backdating of appointments and compensation, the GTU head said the union believes there should be at least two promotions this year to compensate teachers who were not promoted over the last three years. She disclosed that the GTU has written both the education minister and the TSC requesting a meeting.
McDonald said that the TSC will not act until the GTU and the Ministry of Education meet to examine collectively the list of vacancies. She explained that both parties have to agree on whether there will be changes to the criteria for promotions after which a directive will be sent to the TSC for action.
“So, the longer the ministry delays the meeting with the Guyana Teacher’s Union, it means that our teachers are going to be in jeopardy again, and many more teachers will retire not being able to attain positions that they longed for,” she stressed.
Further, the GTU president said President Irfaan Ali will have to be directly consulted on the matter of renumeration packages, since neither the chief education officer nor the permanent secretary are able to address the matter.
“We did that before writing his excellency… requesting to have a meeting with him, and we listed a series of issues that we wanted to discuss. That too has not been responded to favorably…you’re talking about the compensatory pack for retired teachers… retired educators. We’re talking about delayed promotions; we spoke about the agreement and we spoke about regular meetings. Those were the issues that were sent to his excellency,” she revealed.
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