Dear Editor,
I am commenting on the news item `Guyanese awarded ‘teacher of the year’ in The Bahamas’ (SN Nov 23). Guyanese are outstanding teachers throughout the Caribbean region, North America, and England.
They are highly desired by educational systems in the Caribbean region for they are good at nurturing students. I come across many of them in my frequent travels conducting opinion polls throughout the region and read about them in my research on the Guyanese diaspora.
They are enjoying plying their trade in London and Toronto. They are valued and praised in the Turks and Caicos, Cayman, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, Antigua, St. Kitts, St. Vincent, Aruba, Trinidad, and elsewhere in the Caribbean region.
They find NY challenging but they try their best. And many have moved from New York City and are now teaching in Atlanta, Florida, New Jersey, and upstate NY. I, myself, have been educating young minds for 30 years in NY and I can attest it has not been easy.
More and more Guyanese are entering the teaching profession in NY. A few years ago, NY was recruiting teachers from Guyana and other Caribbean territories. But now there is a glut.
While Guyana is losing its teaching talent, it is heartening to know other societies are gaining from the talent of Guyanese who have demonstrated their superior qualities as educators everywhere they have settled.
The government should try to find a way to retain its quality teachers so our nation can benefit from their talent.
Let me congratulate Ms. Edmay Hendricks on her award and for her longevity serving as a teacher. It is not often that teachers or educators are recognized for their contribution in schooling so many youths who go on to become outstanding professionals and or leaders of society.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
