Every teacher should be able to own a car

As we just observed World Teachers’ Day, I submit that all teachers, as professionals, should be able to own a car, as happens in many other CARICOM countries. How is it that you study hard, got into UG or a teachers’ training program, you graduate with your degree, and when you become a teacher, you cannot own a car? You have to depend on the muchdreaded public transportation all your life.

In 1986, when I went to the Bahamas as a teacher, I was able to buy a car right away, with a bank loan, as you will get a loan as long as you have a job. The Bahamian dollar was the same value as the American dollar. When I was in Guyana in the 1980s, I had a bicycle. Most teachers did not even have a bicycle. My bicycle gave me a little higher status. Only the Principal and two teachers had a car at my school. In most schools, principals did not have cars. In the USA, almost everyone, including janitors, have cars.

Many students at high school level drive to school. It is time that all teachers in Guyana should be able to own a car. It was good to hear the Minister saying teachers were “professionals,” and that’s why the Ministry was thinking about a “Licensure” process for teachers. (At this point, that seems to be a solution looking for a problem. It is not a high priority and the Ministry does not have the required professional development capacity outside of Region 4 to make a licensure system workable). My suggestion to the Ministry is not to dissipate its energies on “useful but not necessary” activities, but to first deal with the school level and regional inequities across the system as an urgent priority.

In recent news, there were some pictures of a Black Bush School - the furniture looks dingy, needing painting, and the floor looks unlacquered and filthy. Building more space at QC as the PS recently touted, is the problem we want solved. Why add buildings at QC when the Regions need massive help to level the educational and infrastructural playing field? The recent fiasco at Santa Rosa Primary makes my point about inequities in rural areas compared to Georgetown and Region 4. We are watching the drama with the Amelia’s Ward/Bamia School and hope this does not become another Kato Secondary. How did a company with little experience in school construction land that contract?

A teacher’s ability to own a car is good for teacher recruitment and teacher retention. Guyana’s customs duties and taxes on a car which almost double the imported cost are unfair. If we can allow Exxon to not pay profit taxes and have some exemptions on duty, why can we not allow all teachers to purchase vehicles duty-free, since we boast that we are the fastest growing economy? Teachers must speak up for themselves. I was disappointed when teachers played politics and opposed vaccination. That was a low point, and they must not allow themselves to become political pawns.

However, we must give credit to President Ali announcing some good measures – improving salaries, daycare centers, data connectivity, good working environment, and school counselors. The Guyanese leader stated, “In every secondary school we want to have guidance and counselling officers to support our teachers, and we have already deployed to 86 secondary schools across our country.” So, which of the 116 secondary schools will not get counselors? Since education is now so pivotal for ongoing progress in an oil economy, the Government must honour all collective bargaining agreements.

We must have a goal to double salaries within 3 years to retain our teachers. A starting salary of at least $100,000 is barely reasonable. There is a huge teacher shortage worldwide, so our Government must be visionary and treat teachers well to retain them. For their part, teachers must stop being docile and educate themselves and students that oil renegotiation of the bad Exxon oil contract is essential for us to have more money to have the good life now. The silence of teachers and their unions is deafening on a matter so important for national progress. Wake up teachers, and lend your voice and advocacy to a good cause as change agents!