–increase for teachers offers $2.5B more per annum that what APNU+AFC did with its highest offer in 2016

GENERAL Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has called out “opposition elements” for attempting to thwart a multi-year agreement to increase educators’ wages.
On Wednesday, following weeks of negotiations, the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) and the Ministry of Education signed an agreement that will provide educators with a direct salary increase of approximately 27 per cent.
In 2024, educators will receive a 10 per cent increase; in 2025, an eight per cent increase; and in 2026, a nine per cent increase.

During a press conference at the PPP’s Georgetown headquarters, Dr Jagdeo accused GTU General Secretary Coretta McDonald of working to disrupt the signing and to undermine the credibility of union members who supported the agreement.
McDonald is also a sitting member of parliament in the People’s National Congress (PNC) camp.

“I said last week that she would continue to receive instructions from Congress Place and try to sabotage the agreement and our progress. Her concern is not the teachers of the country, as evidenced by the vile rhetoric she frequently espouses,” Dr Jagdeo said.
He further pointed out that while the opposition has criticised the government’s salary offers to educators, they lack the credibility to do so.
The opposition party while in government, did not make significant efforts to increase teachers’ wages nationwide, Dr Jagdeo lamented.

He said that in 2016, salary increases ranged from one per cent to 10 per cent, with the 10 per cent increase being the maximum for those earning under $99,000 per month. From 2019 onwards, the previous government reduced the range.
Unlike this, Dr Jagdeo highlighted that the new multi-year agreement has caused the wage bill to escalate to $40 billion annually, due to a larger teaching staff with higher salaries.
According to the General Secretary, the government will now allocate $4 billion to teachers’ salaries.

“What will 10 per cent of $40 billion be? It’s $4 billion. The PNC’s 10 per cent in 2016 on a 2015 wage bill cost $1.5 billion, whereas our 10 per cent on a $40 billion wage bill will cost $4 billion—$2.5 billion more per year,” he said.
President, Dr Irfaan Ali said on Wednesday that this new agreement includes significant increases in benefits and concessions for teachers and an advanced welfare package.
“From the beginning, I made it very clear that we needed to discuss and resolve every issue around the table. I’m very pleased that the union, its president and team, as well as the PS, CEO, and their team at the Ministry of Education, were able to successfully conclude an agreement that covers 2024, 2025, and 2026,” he said.

The agreement includes an adjustable clause: if higher increases are announced for the Public Service, teachers will receive the difference between the agreed amount and the higher number.
Additionally, President Ali noted that non-graduate teachers (from TS 1A to TS 5B) will receive two additional increments on their salaries after three years of continuous service. These benefits will be enjoyed by over 9,000 teachers—more than 60 percent of teachers.
The agreement also includes increases in allowances for teachers holding various degrees. Doctoral degree holders will receive $32,000 monthly, while master degree holders will receive $22,000 monthly. Holders of post-graduate diplomas will receive $7,000 monthly, and those with certificates in education or education management will each receive $5,000 monthly.

The agreement also provides for a 108 per cent increase in the station allowance for teachers. Headteachers of ‘A’ category schools will see an 11 per cent increase in their station allowance, while headteachers of ‘B’ category schools will receive a 23 per cent increase, and headteachers of ‘C’ category schools will receive a 39 per cent increase. Other teachers in ‘A’ category schools will receive a 108 per cent increase in this allowance, while those in ‘B’ category schools will see a 59 per cent increase and those in ‘C’ category schools will receive an 85 per cent increase.
For the first time, teachers will also be paid for marking and supervising school-based assessments and the National Grades Five and Six mock exams.