Teachers stage silent protest outside Region Six office
Teachers within Region Six yesterday continued to protest in front of the Regional Education Department in Region Six as they called again on government to engage in collective bargaining with their union.
In what seems to be a new strategy to vent their frustration, teachers have turned up to school but are not teaching.
Last week a public notice signed by the permanent secretaries of the ministries of education and local government said that they had received from the 11 education districts a list of teachers who have not reported for duty at their assigned schools and who have not received the necessary leave approval and/or permission during the school week ending February 9th 2024. They said that the strikers would have pay deducted from their March salaries.
However, sources yesterday said that striking teachers have signalled that while they support the cause they have mortgages and monthly responsibilities as such they cannot afford to lose part of their salaries.
Given this, teachers are turning out to school but are refusing to teach in what is being called a “standout.”
Several parents within the region also reported to this newspaper that while they are sending their children to school classes are not being held as such they remain concerned.
Meanwhile, Mehalai McAlmont,
General Council Representative for the Guyana Teachers’ Union New Amsterdam Branch at the “silent protest” which was held yesterday in front of the Regional Education Department stressed that they are going to continue to protest at the location every day until the government pays heed to their call to enter into collective bargaining with their union.
Teachers sat outside of the department’s office with placards in their hands which read “Care about educators like they care for your child”, “We are skipping our lessons to teach you one” and “I’d rather be teaching but this is important”. McAlmont said that whether it takes two more weeks or a month they are going to continue until their calls are answered.
According to information gathered, Stabroek News was told that the ministry is reportedly making arrangements to implement a programme to have students taught online while teachers are on strike and refusing to teach.
Meanwhile, teachers also protested at the Rose Hall Town Arch in Region Six yesterday.