PRESIDENT David Granger has challenged the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) and the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) to re-examine the recruitment process for teachers, enhance training, focus on retention and adapt to changes within the sector. At the time he was delivering the feature address at the teachers’ union Awards Ceremony and Cocktail Reception at the Georgetown Club on Tuesday night.

President Granger, declaring that the education system is in “crisis,” said the performance of the nation’s children at national and regional examinations serves as a clear indication that more needs to be done to salvage the country’s education system.
OBSCURING THE TRUTH
“The performance of the top 1 per cent of our students at the National Grade Six Assessment Examination obscured the truth about the overall performance of our students because below the tip of that iceberg is a huge body of students who fail,” the President noted.
He said although 8,700 teachers were listed in the education system between 2011 and 2013, there is still a shortage of teachers, particularly in the hinterland communities. But even as the country faces this challenge, hundreds of teachers are leaving the education system, the majority of whom are dismissed for various reasons.

DISMISSALS

“According to the Teaching Service Commission, between 2009 and 2015, teachers were being dismissed at an average of about 150 per year. This means that on average we are losing teachers at a rate of about 286 for various causes,” President Granger pointed out.
In an effort to remedy this situation, he contended that, “We have to examine all over again the way we recruit teachers into the education system”.
President Granger said also noted that although approximately 500 teachers graduate from the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) annually, more half this number exit the system simultaneously.
In addition, a large number of teachers in the system are untrained.
“A significant number of untrained teachers still exist within the system even as a large number of trained teachers are leaving. So when we think of recruitment… we need to think of career teachers, people who will remain in the system and would want to be trained in order to fulfill the requirements of the profession.”
The President, emphasising that teachers ought to be trained, declared that there is no place for untrained teachers in the education system.
“There is no place for untrained teachers in the education system and it is a challenge to ensure that those in the system are trained and therefore empowered to perform their respective duties. Every teacher entering the education system must be trained and every teacher in the system must be trained,” he maintained.
DISTURBING
Disappointingly however, he noted, some teachers, whether trained or not, have failed to conduct themselves in a respectable manner.
“Many teachers walk off the job, many teachers have had disturbing charges alleged against them … teachers have been accused of touching and fondling and even having sex with their students, teachers have been accused of speaking in a vulgar manner and engaging in inappropriate behaviour with their students,” President Granger pointed out. And these ills must be corrected if the education system is to move forward, President Granger said.
Additionally, he said in an effort to retain teachers better must come. The government will work with the Education Ministry and the GTU to enhance the conditions under which teachers work and steps must be taken to encourage teachers to stay within the system.

Additionally, he posited that the retirement age of teachers, 55 years, should be revised as many people are at their prime at age 55. Finally, he challenged the teachers to adapt to the developments within the education system. “The teaching profession cannot remain in the age of teaching with blackboard.”
Education Advisor Vincent Alexander, GTU President Mark Lyte and GTU General Secretary Coretta McDonald were among the officials present at the awards ceremony.
Meanwhile, Lyte in delivering brief remarks applauded the teachers for their contributions to the development of the education system, noting that many of the awardees had gone above and beyond the call of duty.
“The Teacher-of-the-Year should inspire all students to learn. Teachers who aspire for this award don’t stick to the textbook or traditional method of teaching, they find creative ways to make the materials accessible to students,” he said.
During the awards ceremony, GTU acknowledged six retirees. They are Gertude James (West Coast Berbice), Myrtle Calderia (Vreed-en-Hoop), Winifred Lawrie (Essequibo Coast), Junita Henry (Lower Corentyne), Mariam Gillis (Upper Demerara) and Vilma Lynch (South Georgetown), all of whom were presented with hampers for the extraordinary role they have played in moulding the minds of students.
In addition to the retirees, approximately 36 teachers were awarded. Some of the awardees included Juliet Mattis, Lockesk Persaud, Lilian Prowell, Tessa Fernandes, Franchesco Charles, Kaswar Rammauth, Coretta Park, Dorette Brisport-Inniss, Vonette Bansaree, Mark Whyte, Charmaine Lawson, Rakesh Ramsamooj, Carol Davidson, Bibi Shabina Yassin, Francena John, Sandra Gibson and Rakeem Ramjohn.

By Svetlana Marshall