Dear Editor,

PLEASE permit me to add my views on the recent explosion of issues at a private school in Guyana -–Mae’s School.I’m a former teacher of the Secondary Division, and, without any doubt, can endorse all of those concerns echoed by writers over the past days.

A teacher is a person who inspires and encourages students to strive for greatness, live to their fullest potential, and see the best in them. A teacher is someone students admire and someone they aspire to be like. Students learn through them, through their commitment to excellence, and through their ability to make them realize their own personal growth.

These are sentiments I can safely endorse for the teachers at Mae’s Secondary.

My primary concern with this institution is evidently discrimination. The institution lacks a balance in ethnicity and religion. During my tenure, I was the only Indian person attached to this institution. However, due to constant harassment by management, I was forced to submit my resignation.

To date, not one of the twenty teachers of that institution is of Indian ethnicity, and this is a stated fact. Moreso, no Hindus or Muslims are attached with Mae’s Secondary. Is this fair? Isn’t Mae’s Secondary a multi-ethnic, multi–religious school?

Please permit me to quote Guyana’s Labour Law Part 1, Chapter III of the Constitution on Fundamental Rights: (Articles 40, 145, 146, 147) – Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the individual entitle every citizen basic rights without distinction and discrimination, including the right — regardless of his/her race, origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex, subject to the rights and freedoms of others and the public interest — to freedom of conscience, of expression, assembly, and association.

Another serious concern is the one–year contractual agreement with unclear and demanding duties given by said institution. Contracting with this institution is clearly not like employment, when you receive paid holidays. If you don’t work, you don’t earn.

The agreement by Mae’s Secondary limits the flexibility of the employment arrangement. It often limits the ability to renegotiate terms. Further, teachers are always worried that, at the end of the period, their agreement would get terminated. Working with an institution should not drive fear into its employees.

I can further state that Mae’s Secondary is clearly lacking proper human resources techniques. There is poor management–employee relationship existing. Maintaining a strong employer-employee relationship can be the key to the ultimate success of an organisation, the results are advantageous. It is known that if a strong relationship is in place, employees will be more productive, more efficient, create less conflict, and will be more loyal. However, at this institution, management is always trying to drag the reputation of its very successful teachers down to the dogs.

The institution does not cater for free time for employees, hence teachers are overworked. I have witnessed how heavy workloads have negatively affect the psychological well-being of employees, their blood pressure and heart health, the stability of their family relationships, and their safety in the workplace.
Further, I remember teachers being asked to resign because they had complained about the heavy workload.

To conclude, I respectfully request that Government of Guyana urgently help teachers who are crying out for help, especially within those private schools. Long live Guyanese teachers!
Regards,
ARIF M. SHAW