Parents of pupils attending the Providence Primary School on the East Bank Demerara have been protesting against the dismissal of a Grade Six teacher and are calling on the Guyana Teachers Union and the Ministry of Education to conduct a thorough investigation and have him reinstated.
Rodwell Simon, an assistant master at the primary school, was dismissed by the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) earlier this month on the grounds of neglecting his duties and misconduct.
Parents believe Simon was wrongfully dismissed by the commission but a letter seen by this newspaper addressed to Simon stated that he was found guilty subsequent to a hearing on January 30th, 2017.
According to the letter, the two charges against Simon stated that he did not attend adequately to duties assigned and refused to execute any lawful duty assigned, whether given orally or in writing in keeping with his duties and responsibilities. He was also accused of conduct unbecoming of a teacher, insubordination/disobedience to head teacher and education officers and breach of policy as regards Circular no 1/2009 dealing with extra lessons after school hours.
The letter, signed by Sophia Hunte, Secretary of the TSC, went on to say Simon was found guilty of all the charges except not attending to duties assigned. The letter pointed out that based on the recommendation provided by the hearing committee, Simon was dismissed from the teaching service with effect from 2017-02-03.
Parents told Stabroek News that Simon, who taught at the school for 17 years, worked with pupils despite their academic capabilities and gained positive results. “Last year he sent up 42 students and none of them didn’t come back to this school, they all passed to go good school,” said Fazeena Peters, a concerned parent. She also stated that because of the school performance at last year’s National Grade Six Assessment, the school was awarded the most improved school in the education district.
“We came to a meeting last week and we asked the head teacher about it and she said she has nothing to say. We can’t understand that he was sent home just like that,” Peters said.
Caroline Hunte, another parent, said Simon was the type of teacher who would look out for his pupils. “If they don’t have snacks, he would take out money and buy for them. If they have to go home, he would go and put them in a transportation…,” she added.
“I don’t think the matter was investigated properly. If sir was disobedient to HM, it had to be she said something to him or do him something. He is not a person that would tell you anything… we have known him for years,” Anola Braithwaite, a concerned parent said. “They seem to have some problem with him… He has been here for years and all of a sudden he got dismissed,” Braithwaite opined.
The parents also said that Simon would on many occasions tutor teachers who were enrolled in training college. It was further stated that even parents could have sat-in on Simon’s class and learned.
“Now because of this, our children are suffering. They have to write exams in a few months and they don’t have a teacher… We are going to protest until we get some justice,” said Peters.
“This is real unfair to the students. If he leaves the school falls,” Hunte added.
