By Celestine Juan

TEACHERS of the Brickdam Secondary School on Friday staged a “sit out” to protest poor working conditions at the institution- a move described as illegal by the Chief Education Officer.

Approximately 20 teachers downed tools, sat outside of the learning institution and refused to enter the building over a number of issues, including the lack of adequate toilet facilities, lack of space and claims of fire hazards.

According to the teachers, they have made several complaints to the relevant authorities at the Ministry of Education; however their complaints seem to have fallen on deaf ears.

One teacher, who prefers to remain anonymous, told this newspaper that they are fed up with the deplorable condition of the school, claiming that the safety of students are also at risk. According to the teacher, the school houses between 350-400 students along with 25 teachers with only three working toilets.

She alleged that the science lab is flooded whenever it rains and the back of the building is slanted on one side. The teacher further stated that the Guyana Fire Service had deemed the school a fire hazard and that the building was supposed to have been condemned two years ago.

The teachers also raised other issues, such as the improper staffroom for teachers, no recreational facility or canteen for students. A senior teacher, who has been at the institution for some 21 years also expressed frustration.

“They give the school so much face-lift and is same thing; just dashing paint on the dutty wall, a few tiles and the same old lap-sided building.”

Illegal Protest
Meanwhile, Chief Education Officer Olato Sam visited the teachers and expressed dissatisfaction with their protest action. According to Sam, it was a “ridiculous and illegal protest,” as he abruptly walked away from the teachers.

“Go back to your classes and teach the people children like you’re being paid to do,” the Chief Education Officer said.

He said that the ministry was never made aware of their claims since the teachers failed to raise these issues with the Head Mistress of the school before protesting.

“Before jumping to the extreme there is a process, I advise that you organise yourselves properly before a representative then engage the ministry with these claims,” Sam told the teachers.

In 2015, the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) had highlighted the need for the school to be relocated. The union was premised on the conviction that the school was too near to a busy section of the city and had no playground in which children could recreate.

The narrow passageways in fact, constitute the only yard space for the school and therefore represents the perimeter of the property. Former Education Minister Priya Manickchand had promised the relocation of Brickdam Secondary and Central High Schools.