…working in other departments in the ministry

By Zena Henry
A number of teachers who were initially deemed non-existent, yet collecting salaries from the Ministry of Education have been located.
A list of at least 12 names was presented to education officials following a probe into what was described as the existence of ‘ghost teachers’ within the system.
The matter was brought to light during the handing over of the Commission of Inquiry’s preliminary report into the education system by its Chairman Ed Caesar, just over a month ago. Caesar had explained that in Regions Five (Demerara/Mahaica) and 10 (Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice), for example, it was found that teachers were registered under the name of different schools, but checks showed that they were not employed there. The implication was that fake names were registered with the school, while other persons were falsely collecting their salaries.
A closer look into the matter proved however, that the missing teachers were simply working in other parts of the education system although their names were registered as being employed under a particular school. This is to help with the efficient use of staffers, recently appointed Chief Education Officer, Marcel Hutson, told the Guyana Chronicle on Monday.
Hutson explained to the newspaper that following checks into the missing teachers’ issue, the Regional Education Officer (REO) of Region 10 provided him with a list of those educators that could not be located and they were found to be performing duties in different locations, with some even working at city education offices.
Hutson explained that the education ministry has a placement unit that would help to distribute teachers and other relevant education staffers in the places where their services would be needed, and in some cases, urgently. As such, even if a teacher’s name is registered under a school that teacher could be relocated to perform duties elsewhere. Another reason why the teachers were not immediately located, the CEO continued, is because in the Berbice River, where ‘ghost teachers’ were also identified, there continues to be an issue with accommodation for teachers. Because of this, teachers facing this accommodation issue may be registered with a school in the area, but working in another location.
In another scenario, Hutson said that retired teachers returning to provide services to the education system may also be registered under a school, but their service is being utilised elsewhere. “Sometimes we need to expedite our services,” Hutson told the newspaper, referring to cases where teachers may have to be immediately relocated. “So again, you might see that teacher registered at a school, but is in a different location,” the CEO clarified.
Technical Advisor on Education, Vincent Alexander, had told the Guyana Chronicle weeks ago that initial checks into the ‘ghost teachers’ issue had already proven to be less alarming than it was appearing. He told the newspaper that a certain degree of authority is delegated to the regional Education District Offices where they can move teachers around, based on where they are required. Alexander had made it clear at that time that even if one were to make ground checks at a school for a teacher and not find them it did not mean they could not be located. He said that the ministry’s records would be able to locate the staff and make the necessary verifications.