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Our teachers
(Kaieteur News) – Yesterday Guyana joined the rest of world in observing World Teachers’ Day.
The occasion as usual was filled with pomp and ceremony in some places. We believe such a day should never be reduced to flowers, speeches, greetings and social media tributes. It should be a moment for a country to honestly examine how it treats the men and women entrusted with educating its children and preparing the next generation.
In Guyana, our teachers deserve recognition and gratitude for the work they continue to perform, often under difficult circumstances. They teach, counsel, motivate, discipline and, in many instances, provide emotional support to children who face challenges far beyond the classroom. They remain among the most important builders of our society.
Yet, while Guyana celebrates its teachers, too many of them continue to struggle.
The 2026 World Teachers’ Day theme, “Standing with teachers: 60 years of protecting the profession, advancing its status and shaping our futures,” is particularly relevant. The theme commemorates 60 years since the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, which recognised the importance of protecting teachers’ rights, improving their working conditions and elevating the status of the profession.
Six decades later, Guyana must ask whether it is doing enough.
The country is earning billions of dollars from its oil resources, yet teachers continue to complain about salaries that do not adequately reflect the importance and demands of their profession. A nation cannot proclaim that education is its highest priority while those at the heart of the education system struggle to make ends meet.
There is also the reality of the classroom itself. Some teachers work in environments where basic facilities and resources are inadequate. A conducive learning environment is not a luxury. Children need appropriate classrooms, functioning equipment and basic amenities, while teachers need the tools necessary to perform their jobs effectively.
Then there is transportation.
It is not uncommon to see teachers standing along roadsides waiting for public transportation to get to or from school. This should prompt serious reflection in a country now enjoying unprecedented oil wealth. Government should explore meaningful transportation assistance for teachers, including duty-free concessions for those who qualify, rather than leaving educators to bear the full burden of travelling to serve the nation.
Perhaps even more troubling is the growing concern about bullying, disrespect and abuse directed at teachers, including by some students. No teacher should have to enter a classroom wondering whether he or she will be verbally abused, threatened or physically attacked. Protecting teachers does not mean denying students their rights. It means establishing an environment where respect, discipline and safety are non-negotiable.
Parents, students, teachers, school administrators and government all have responsibilities in restoring discipline and respect within schools.
Guyana’s teachers should not have to choose between their calling and their economic survival. Neither should they have to accept unsafe or unsuitable working conditions as part of the profession.
The government has repeatedly spoken of investing in education and human capital. The true test of that commitment is not merely how much money is allocated to new schools, programmes or infrastructure. It is also whether the teacher standing before the classroom feels valued, adequately compensated, properly equipped and protected.
Our teachers deserve more than one day of appreciation.
They deserve policies that demonstrate appreciation every day of the year.
As Guyana marks World Teachers’ Day, let us celebrate the dedication of our teachers. But let us also listen to their concerns and act on them. If teachers are truly shaping our future, then protecting and uplifting them must be regarded not as a favour, but as a national investment.
Guyana cannot build the educated, productive and resilient society it envisions while leaving its teachers behind.
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