The Teachers’ Welfare and Benefits programme which was launched yesterday as part of the Ministry of Education’s (MoE) Education Month activities will see some $200 million from the housing revolving fund used to assist teachers.
According to the MoE’s Education Specialist, Olato Sam, the ministry has acknowledged that the welfare of teachers “needs concerted attention and will therefore, when addressed, pay dividends concerning the output.” The launch was held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) located at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, where a large number of teachers from the ten administrative regions gathered to register to be a part of the programme. Upon signing up, teachers received a card which can be used at several stores and business entities which are collaborating with the MoE to provide services for the teachers. Sam said that through the welfare and benefits programme, teachers will be eligible for discounts on retail goods, healthcare, telecommunications, office supplies, and many other needed forms of assistance.
Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand remarked that “trying to make teachers better and put them in a better place is not new [to the PPP/C administration]. Under the Bharrat Jagdeo administration, you saw an agreement entered into with the Guyana Teachers’ Union to give teachers duty-free concessions, scholarships, salary raises every year, a housing revolving fund which presently has $200,000,000 in it. From then to now, they have not found a way to use that fund.” Manickchand said that the time has come to ensure the union’s membership benefits from it. She noted that the mortgage fund is different and is in addition to the housing fund.
A key element of the programme is the insurance which the ministry is initiating to assist teachers. The GTM Group of Insurance Companies has agreed to offer several benefits when teachers apply for coverage. A notable offer by the company is the healthcare benefit and Roger Yee, the Managing Director of GTM, went into detail about what the package covers. According to Yee, the health insurance will cover travel from the hinterland for medical care, emergency air ambulance service within the country’s borders, free mammograms for teachers 35 years and older with free follow-up sessions every five years, free Pap smears on the recommendation of a doctor, free prostate cancer tests for teachers 50 years and older with free follow-up sessions every five years, free medical checkups for principals who are 50 years old and older with follow-up sessions every two years.
The package also offers other benefits which teachers were encouraged to apply for. Teachers who get insured with the company, will also be able to benefit from packages which have a reward programme that will benefit their spouse and children. Sam disclosed that the MoE has developed a revolving mortgage fund that will assist first-time owners, a teachers’ benevolent fund, and a specified hardship situation fund.
According to Manickchand, the cost of the insurance will be covered by the teachers themselves but the figure will be far less than what the average person pays. She added that GTM has worked out plans which will be cost-efficient for teachers and added that “the businesses will offer discounts, they agreed with us.” The funds, she said, will ensure that teachers are in receipt of the best care. Further, teachers who are already covered by other insurance companies will not have to leave those companies and the ministry is willing to work with any company that wants to offer discounts for teachers.
Meanwhile, GTT is offering free installation to teachers who sign up for the Fibre network and GTT is offering 25 per cent extra data for teachers using its services. E-Networks is also offering free installation for its 4G network. Metro Office Supplies has offered a $5,000 gift card for teachers to use at the different Metro centres and its online shopping centre. Metro will also be donating 11 laptops for the end-of-the-year teachers’ awards. Sam said that the ministry has decided to re-start the awards programme which acknowledges teachers for their hard work and dedication. Other companies and businesses which have joined the Ministry with this programme are Gafoors, Digicel, Shamdas Kirpalani, Survival Supermarket, and Bhena’s Footwear. Yesterday Bhena’s gave free footwear to teachers who have been teaching for 20 years and over. GTT had a giveaway of four cellphones.
Manickchand said that the ministry had to consider how teachers were being treated to make them more effective. She noted that there is a distrust between the two entities and assured teachers that the ministry is supporting them. She said that the ministry continues to support teachers’ development and will continue to relentlessly, persistently, and consistently serve the teachers. She added that the ministry has reported that several teachers have registered for the GOAL scholarships and assured that the ministry understands that teachers are committed to improving themselves and it will continue to support these teachers. Additionally, following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ministry collaborated with Coursera which saw over 8,000 teachers register to partake in courses offered. Teachers also benefitted from the Profuturo collaboration which saw some 10,000 teachers register with 3,000 completing the ICT course. The MoE also aided teachers with laptops and tablets to assist with the devices deficit and also gave out care packages.
