DEPUTY Chief Education Officer (DCEO), Melcita Bovell has said that the issue of short staff in schools across the country should be addressed by October 1.
She gave the assurance while addressing headteachers, other teachers and more education stakeholders at the North Ruimveldt Multilateral School in Georgetown yesterday. Speaking at the final consultation on corporal punishment, Bovell assured that, for those schools that had applied for teachers in the various subject areas, rehired teachers are expected back in classrooms from today.
“The appointments were made and, although it is on October 1 that these teachers are expected back, they have agreed to start from today,” she said.
The Ministry of Education has moved in the direction of recruiting retired teachers as part of a wider effort to enhance the delivery of education countrywide.
Former Education Minister, Shaik Baksh made the announcement at a forum arranged by the ministry to interact with school administrators.
According to his successor, Ms. Priya Manickchand, the decision to take retired teachers back into the system is in keeping with the ministry’s policy to have a dominance of qualified and trained teachers.
While these retired/rehired teachers are expected to turn out by today, the minister said it will not be an automatic process.
These teachers have experience, knowledge and wisdom and their services are needed urgently but the administrations of the different schools will have to evaluate them before placement, she explained.