By Michel Outridge

MORE than 40 parents staged a picketing exercise outside the locked gate of Mae’s Under-12 School on Third Avenue, Subryanville, yesterday morning after they learnt that the agreement made with management for Grade 6 teachers to continue teaching that class was not met.Robin Somar, a parent on the picket line, told the media that they are upset because management has refused to talk to them and has since told them, “Do whatever you want.”

He said that they pay $60,000 per term, per child, and that following a meeting two weeks ago after teachers threatened to down tools when they were told of an imminent pay cut, it was agreed that parents pay an additional $20,000 for the teachers to continue teaching Grade 6.

Somar explained that it was just before the sitting of National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) exams and they even agreed to pay an additional fee of $10,000 to motivate teachers to remain in Grade 6, because they want the best for their children.

Somar, like many other parents, was upset that the agreement was broken, and the placards expressed their displeasure because they were promised that the teachers of Grade 6 would continue to teach Grade 6 pupils.

The Grade 6 teachers are really good, and that is why they agreed to pay an additional $20,000, since they were under the impression that the Grade 6 teachers would still be teaching their children in Grade 6.

He said that the management of the school was being dishonest, since parents had paid all fees and he deemed this as “bullyism, fraud and criminal.”

Somar said, “It’s wrong; you cannot take our money and tell us something and then give us something else. We want the Grade 6 teachers.”

Another upset parent, Wayne Halley, told the Guyana Chronicle that there is the view that after September, the Grade 6 teachers will no longer be there.

He said that during the last meeting with management, parents asked that the Grade 6 teachers remain to teach the Grade 6 class, because, a week before the NGSA, they wanted to remove those teachers.

BRUSHED OFF
Halley said that when they asked for a meeting they were brushed off and told to do whatever they want to do, even after they would have paid fees.

He noted that they were even told that if they do not like it, they have the choice to take their children out of the school and go elsewhere, but he considers this to be nonsense, since both his children have been attending classes at the school since nursery.

Halley pointed out that management is bullying them to accept their rules or leave and that is wrong, since they are paying all fees required following an agreement.

Cindy Pauls told the Guyana Chronicle yesterday morning that even after they had requested a meeting with the administrator, Stacy French, they were locked out of the building and they then decided to mount a protest.

Parents told the media that they are all of the same view and if they have to take the matter to court they will do so, because Grade 4 or 5 teachers cannot teach the Grade 6 class.

They reported that the Grade 6 teachers are making the school look good, because the pupils are getting top grades as well, so management should treat those teachers well and make them comfortable.

Parents said, “Your child is at the door if you cannot come and pay the fees. So, if we pay 100%, why they cannot honour their obligations and let the Grade 6 teachers remain.”

Meanwhile, the media tried to get a comment from management of the school, but their requests were ignored.
WORK STOPPAGE

On April 14, 2016, teachers called a work stoppage to protest a likely wage cut by the administration, but they were soon called to a meeting and the matter was resolved and classes resumed. The teachers were outspoken after they were shown a copy of a memorandum, which stated that an impending salary cut was on the cards.
However, parents said that the differences had been resolved because the students who are preparing to sit the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) examination would have been affected, so the memo was rescinded, as the administration opted to pay the teachers their full salaries.