As part of a holistic plan for the reopening of schools, Minister of Education Priya Manickchand invited the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) to a meeting to hear the Union’s views about the impact of COVID-19 on the education sector and teachers in particular.
Prior to that meeting, the Minister made it clear that be it virtual, on platforms like Zoom or google classroom, via the Learning Channel or a physical opening the most important issue to address presently is keeping teachers, children and their families safe as well as keeping children engaged academically.
September is usually the beginning of a new academic year, however, GTU expressed the view that schools were unprepared at present to accommodate a physical re-opening that would allow for the safety of all involved.
A final decision has not been made relative to the physical reopening of schools. The Ministry continues to engage stakeholders on the issue and commits to making an announcement soonest.
Present at the meeting were, the President of the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) Mr Mark Lyte, Chief Planning Officer (CPO) Ms Nicola Johnson, Director NERD Ms Jennifer Cumberbatch, Human Resources Manager- MoE Ms Jacqueline Simon, Patrick Onwuzirike Assistant Chief Education Officer (ACEO)- Technical, Ms Samantha Williams ACEO- Nursery, Ms Carol Benn ACEO- Primary, June-Ann Gonsalves ACEO-Secondary, GTU General Secretary Coretta Mc Donald, First Vice President-GTU Lesmeine Collins and GTU Treasurer Sumanta Alleyne.
