Education Ministry continues to update teachers on new policies
The Regional Education Officers in Bartica recently concluded three days of meetings with educators at the Three Miles Secondary School, Bartica-Potaro Road to further educate the teachers on some of the new policies.
The programme also fostered an environment for persons to seek clarification on the delivery of education. The meeting, the first such in 16 years, was said to be attended by an approximate 200 teachers from the Lower Mazaruni area representing the nursery, primary and secondary levels, Batavia, Itabali, Kartabo, Karrau Creek, Makouria, Holy Name, St John the Baptist Primary, St Anthony’s Primary, Agatash, Two Miles Primary, Precious Gems Nursery, Hill View, Beach View and Future Builders. Deputy Chief Education Officer Administration, Donna Chapman during her remarks lauded the region for its significant improvement of passes in Mathematics at the 2017 National Grade Six Examination which climbed from six to 100 individual passes. She said: “We commend you for this achievement but we must not get comfortable as we have to focus on getting better even as we are encouraging you to focus on Grades 4, 5 and 6.” She urged teachers to not underestimate the necessity for students to matriculate at all levels.
Chapman stated, while addressing another topic, that violence in schools must be tackled through the health and family life education programme. “Our role is to also provide our students with social skills beyond the academic subjects. We also need to pay greater attention to children; maintaining the ratio even when they are at break,” she added.
Her audience was encouraged to give more attention to pupils and students so as to create a safer environment, while highlighting the importance of teachers’ attendance and punctuality. Additionally, the Ministry of Education, during the latter part of September issued a circular to schools across Guyana to ‘step-up’ the game in safety of pupils and students while in the care of their teachers.
It was sent out through the Chief Education Officer, Marcel Hutson, with mandatory instructions of the act taking immediate effect.
The circular read, “The students must be supervised at all times during play and at lunch while at school.” It further stated that a ‘schedule’ is expected to be developed, which will clearly state the responsible teachers for supervision over these periods, whether on a daily or weekly basis.
“The rule of one teacher to 20 students must be observed if students are to be taken to any event/ activity outside of school,” the circular said. Additionally it sought to remind teachers and head teachers that parental consent must be sought whenever students are required to leave the premises of the school for any event.
While this initiative may be beneficial to children, it has raised much tension amongst teachers since they are being mandated to do more, and for the same cost, according to an educator.
(Kaieteur News)