THE Ministry of Education will be honouring some of the nation’s outstanding teachers when it convenes the 2010 National Teachers’ Awards ceremony on Thursday. The occasion, organised in collaboration with the Guyana Teachers’ Union and Laparkan Holdings, is billed for the National Culture Centre and will be chaired by Chief Education Officer Olato Sam. The event, which will be graced by teachers, students and educators from all across Guyana, will be addressed by Education Minister Shaik Baksh.
The regional awardees who are vying for the Teacher of the Year Prize are Ms. Charlene Rodrigues of Santa Rosa Secondary in Region One; Mr. Anand Bisson of Aurora Secondary in Region Two; Ms. Latchmin Gopal of Leonora Primary in Region Three; Ms. Praniva Singh of La Bonne Intention Primary in Region Four; Ms. Shamena Charran of Novar Primary in Region Five; Ms. La Wonda Fraser of New Amsterdam Multilateral in Region Six; Ms. Oretta McCubbin of Hill View Nursery in Region Seven; Ms. Ivy Lyte of Annai Nursery in Region Nine; Ms. Roslyn Henry of Pine Street Nursery in Region 10; and Ms. Carol Barnes of Winfer Garden Primary in Georgetown. Ms. Chaville Mitchell of Trafalgar Nursery in Region Five has received honourable mention for her dedication and commitment to the profession.
According to the ministry’s guidelines, nominees for the awards must be formally trained with at least five years of service at the beginning of the academic year.
The nominees were required to have at least 90 per cent attendance and punctuality for the year for which they have been assessed, and a 75 per cent pass rate in their class/subject at their schools’ annual examinations.
In addition, they had to conduct at least three class level/subject level meetings with parents of the children they teach in the given school year.
Apart from these requirements, the awardees were assessed in a number of areas including timely submission of records, pursuit to improve learning facilities and opportunities, innovative teaching methods, professional development assistance given to their colleagues, both intramurally and extramurally, participation in community activities, integrity, dignity of bearing, being a role model worthy of emulation, establishment of good rapport with students, and willingness to work beyond the call of duty.
Education Minister Shaik Baksh had said that the award is expected to serve as a catalyst for motivating teachers to improve their delivery and performance in the classroom.
Apart from the National Teachers’ award, the government has been making continuous efforts to enhance the working conditions and welfare of teachers.
Teachers today enjoy uniform allowances, and a salary increase for upgrading their qualification. Those from the coastland performing duties in the hinterland regions receive an additional $ 30,000 housing allowance, along with a remote incentive allowance.
Every year, twenty-five teachers receive free scholarships to further their studies at the University of Guyana. And head teachers are entitled to duty free concessions.
In addition, the Ministry of Education is also working with the GTU to accelerate the housing loans programme for teachers.