‘We are treated as third-class citizens’ – Guyana teachers lament poor working conditions

Mark Lyte Monday, President of the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU), says it is time for school administrators and teachers to take a stand and send a clear message against acts of discrimination against teachers.

He said this in a video statement just in time with the reopening of schools in a bid to address decade-old problems.

“Everybody getting a package $250,000, $150,000, $30,000 (One Guyana dollar=US$0.004 cents). What was given to teachers? More work and nothing else,” Lyte said.

According to him, the Ministry of Education has committed to including clothing stipends in teachers’ September salaries once classes resume.

He added that some schools across the country remain in a state of unpreparedness as a result of ongoing infrastructural work.

“And if the condition of the school environment is not conducive, infrastructural work is still ongoing, the school is dirty because of the last-minute construction, I advised our educators to ensure that you sign in the time book and return home,” Lyte said

The GTU president however promised to address decade-old problems confronting teachers as students returned to their classrooms for full-time face-to-face tuition since the outbreak of COVID-19 that had resulted in most classes being undertaken online.

“This academic year will not go down that way, as your leader, with the support of branch representatives and with your support, enough is enough.”

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