Headteachers at all schools will soon be able to focus on running their respective institutions effectively as they will no longer be required to teach, according to a circular published on Wednesday by the Ministry of Education, which also indicated that this and other changes outlined will be implemented gradually.
The circular, signed by Chief Education Officer Saddam Hussein and sent to all regions, the Guyana Teachers Union and the Teaching Service Commission, stated that headteachers will be required to conduct clinical supervisory visits and classroom walk-throughs every week.
According to the circular, which was also posted on the ministry’s Facebook page, the classroom walk-through is “a brief structured, non-evaluative classroom observation by the headteacher that is followed by conversation between the headteacher and the teacher about what was observed (strengths, weaknesses, and corrective action).”
Clinical supervisory visits will involve closely monitoring classroom activities, ensuring that teaching standards are upheld, and identifying areas in need of improvement. These sessions are expected to be conducted at least eight times per week by the headteacher, while deputy headteachers must conduct at least six sessions of clinical supervision per week.
Additionally, a class with more than 15 learners will have two teachers, the circular said, and multigrade classes should be avoided where practical and only established in instances where there are fewer than five pupils per year group. According to sources, by reducing the teacher-to-student ratio in larger classes, the ministry aims to create a more conducive learning environment that fosters increased engagement, personalised instruction, and improved academic outcomes.
Doubling the number of teachers in large classes will optimise the learning experience for all students, especially in settings where class sizes have historically posed challenges to effective instruction. This initiative aligns with global best practices in education, where smaller class sizes have been linked to better student performance and greater teacher-student interaction.
This shift also offers educators the opportunity to diversify teaching methods and tailor their instruction to the unique needs of their students, further enhancing the overall quality of education.
Meanwhile, in secondary schools, if possible, teachers should only teach a maximum of two subject areas at two different levels, the circular said. This policy shift marks a departure from the previous practice where teachers often juggled multiple subjects.
Each secondary school will also have a data entry clerk as well as guidance and counselling officers.
These changes are expected to have far-reaching implications for the sector and therefore, the circular stated, that they are to be made “gradually over the next academic year and beyond”. It added that school leaders must “conduct a consultative rationalisation of their staff to begin the implementation process” and “will be held accountable for sporadic and indiscriminate implementation.”
