The Ministry of Education (MoE) yesterday said that it will be taking over management of a teachers’ scholarship and duty-free concessions programme from the GTU.
In a statement, the ministry said it will assume the managing of the 50 scholarships and 100 duty-free concessions from the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) following complaints.
“The awarding of these benefits to teachers is presently managed by the GTU. However, the Ministry of Education continues to receive complaints and reports from serving teachers regarding how these benefits are allocated or not allocated.
“Lately, the complaints have elevated from the mismanagement of the system by the Union to the benefits being used as weapons to threaten teachers to participate in activities organized by the GTU, failing which, members are informed openly and subtly that they will not be a recipient or continuing recipient of a scholarship nor of a duty-free concession. These reports have come from teachers who are duly qualified to receive these benefits. These reports cannot be ignored”, the statement said.
The ministry assured that the benefits will continue to be granted to teachers.
In a reply yesterday afternoon, the GTU accused the ministry of telling “blatant lies”.
“These allegations are blatant lies, we challenge MoE to produce evidence of such mismanagement and threats to teachers”, a statement from the union said.
The union charged that the ministry’s decision is a direct response to the GTU’s ongoing protest action against forced vaccination and owed finances to teachers.
The union further said that there is an agreement in force between the GTU and the government on the scholarship and concessions and this will remain so until a new one is signed.
It added that the ministry’s move is a “clear attempt to drive fear among our teachers” and a bid for union busting.
The GTU said that the scholarship committee over the years has included an officer from the Personnel Department of the ministry.
“GTU’s track record is evident over the years. We have diligently served our teachers in the past and remain ready to serve them now and in the future”, the union said.
