THE Ministry of Education is urging eligible teachers to upgrade to Assistant Masters/Mistresses and take advantage of the numerous benefits that are awaiting them.

In a Facebook post on Friday, the ministry stated that, in November 2023, close to 1,800 teachers graduated from the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE). This means that they are now eligible to upgrade to Assistant Master/Mistress.

“As of January 4, 2024, less than 200 teachers have applied for this upgrade. It must be noted that the Ministry of Education has simplified the upgrading process from eight steps to two steps.

The Ministry of Education wishes to appeal to those teachers who have graduated to apply for their upgrade using the form below. Teachers are asked to follow the instructions on the form to expedite this process,” the post read.

Within the application form, it states that the form is to be completed by all teachers who require an upgrade to their status or the addition of an allowance to their salary, having written CSEC or CAPE subjects or having graduated from the CPCE, University of Guyana, GOAL, or any other accredited tertiary institution.

It was further stated that acting teachers who have served for 20 continuous years must also use the form to upgrade their status to Temporary Unqualified Master/Mistress (TUM).

The following steps must be followed:

1. Fill in the form and attach a copy of your last APPOINTMENT LETTER.
2. Have the Principal or teacher-in-charge of your school sign this form if you attended UG.
3. If a teacher was granted official release to attend UG, then he or she needs to uplift a letter from the HR Department of the MoE (21 Brickdam, Georgetown) which indicates that he or she has signed a contract.
Hand deliver or email this form and your last appointment letter (and, if necessary, contract letter and accreditation letter) to the official email address of your Department of Education.
5. The Department of Education will submit printed copies of all FORMS & APPOINTMENT LETTERS to the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) or School Boards Secretariat (SBS) on a weekly basis.
6. The TSC or SBS will issue a new LETTER OF APPOINTMENT or LETTER OF IMPROVED QUALIFICATION which will be emailed to the teacher, the Department of Education, the Ministry of Education, and to the official email address of the teacher’s school.
7. If a university other than UG or those under GOAL was used, then the teacher is required to have his or her qualification accredited by the National Accreditation Council (NAC) of Guyana before applying for an upgrade or the addition of an allowance. The original accreditation statement issued by NAC must be submitted along with the application form and the teacher’s last letter of appointment.

The form can be accessed at:
https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=700796672194198&id=100067916143278&mibextid=E8Ytc9