-President Ali urges teachers, says continuous efforts being made to upskill, improve lives of all workers

EFFORTS are being continuously made to improve working conditions for all categories of public servants, President Dr. Irfaan Ali has assured, while urging teachers to exercise patience amid a Guyana Teachers’ Union-led countrywide strike.

While addressing a gathering at the commissioning of the Guyana Technical Training College Facility at Port Mourant, Berbice, the Head of State said: “Everybody believes that all our resources are available now. In 2027, that is when the real revenue growth would be seen in the country. And I have said to our teachers, nurses, and public servants that we are committed to giving them the best life possible.”

For the past five days picketing action has been consistent outside the Ministry of Education’s head office at Brickdam, Georgetown.

The strike action began on Monday and saw educators taking to the city streets both in Georgetown and other parts of the country.

“You have to give a bit. You have to have patience to not let yourselves be used as political pawns…coming on to the end of this year, we are going to have a total evaluation by category of workers so that we can have an intervention that is even more structured and that will bring more benefits,” President Ali said.

In Guyana, the government he said is prioritising education and workforce development, pursing initiatives to upskill educators and revolutionising the delivery of education.

“We are working now to see how we can have a duplicate system that will allow a more robust workforce in the teaching profession. Highly skilled and trained group of teachers with a standard of student-to-teacher ratio that is world class.”

“I urge our teachers to understand that you need not to push against the hurricane. The wind is blowing with you and we are with you and we are committed to improving the welfare of every worker in our country,” he added.