“I just want to be a blessing to the children and even to my colleagues. That is all I want to do and of course to collect a salary at the end of the month because we cannot live without money. But for me it is more about being a blessing.”
The words of a sister who returned to this country after many, many years and is now working in the public system as a teacher. For her, the journey to become an employee in her homeland has not been an easy one, but being a woman of faith she chalks it up to another experience to make her stronger.
“It was not easy, it has been almost two years since I came back. And I didn’t come back with any high expectations. I just wanted a job to earn. I was not looking to jostle for a job in any city area because not only I know how difficult that could be but I also wanted to live in a far-flung area.
“I came back to Guyana with the intention of enjoying the peace and quiet of an interior location, away from all of the hustle and bustle of this life. If I wanted the hustle and bustle, my sister, I would have remained out of Guyana. But because my return was a little abrupt – COVID-19 kind of hastened my return – I did not come back as financially prepared as I should have been.
“But I said to myself I have some teaching experience and I would have been able to get a job at the local school once the need was there. Well boy was I wrong,” she said, with an unhumorous burst of laughter.
“I applied, and I applied and I applied. Yes, that is how many applications I sent, email, hard copy and everything and it was as if I was just hitting a wall everywhere. I tried to talk to so many people. I think the only person I must not have talked to was the Minister of Education and that is because, like I didn’t have the strength to try to reach her.
“But all the regional people and some other people talk to them. First I was told it was because there was no Teaching Service Commission, but then I knew of people who were being employed so for me it felt personal. Maybe it was not, but that is how it felt. And some of the people were so arrogant it really made me want to just stop.
“I went as far as volunteering at the school because they needed the help and I hoped that maybe those in power would see the need for me and hire me. But then because of some health and other issues, I discontinued,” the sister told me recently as she chronicled her journey to becoming an employee of the state.
“It became so frustrating because I needed to earn but I also saw that my service was needed and I am like: why is this happening? A few months ago, I returned to the country where I had lived for many years and it was while there I was told that the reason I was not going to be employed was because of my age. Yes, I was advised that because 55 is closer to me than ten years I could not be employed.
“I was crushed because I was still hoping that I would have been employed. The school where I taught before returning to Guyana wanted me to return and I was considering it because I needed to earn. I figured I could have worked for a year or two, saved some money and then returned to Guyana. I had already built a house and so on and I knew what I wanted.
“But as God would have it, even as I was making those plans, I got a call and was asked if I was still interested. Was I still interested? Of course I was! And so to make a long story short I started teaching in September. I have not gotten a salary yet, because there is this thing until three months later. It has not been easy but I am still grateful,” the sister told me.
“It is a different way of teaching, but I am learning every day and I am open to learning. And of course because it is interior we don’t have access to so many things and it is harder because when I taught before everything was at my fingertips. The classroom was so modern and up to date.
“I don’t have that there. At first I was not even sure if it was a classroom. But you know I am not complaining. Bit by bit it is coming around and good for the ministry for providing money to improve classrooms and schools. We benefitted and I can finally say that the classroom is looking like a classroom,” she said with a genuine smile.
“I feel very proud of that. The best thing of it all is that the children are very lovely. I don’t think I have ever taught a bunch of such lovely children. They want to learn and they are so respectful and open to the teaching; it brings joy to my soul. They are far back but I am willing and they are willing.
“I am not saying that it is all easy but I am happy to go school, if it is just for the children. I really want to be a blessing to them and their homes too. I want to have a relationship with their parents so we can work together to help them to be the best they can. I think if I can achieve that in the next few years it would be my biggest contribution to teaching.
“Yeah so this has been my journey so far. I am not going to zero in on the negatives, there have been some, but today I want to talk about the positives. And that is the lovely children and the fact that the classroom and the school have been improved through the assistance from the ministry. I am happy about it and the children are happy too, they are in a better learning environment and it does make a difference,” the sister said.
I was moved by the sister as she shared her experience because she was so passionate and sincere. I do believe that she will make an impact as she teaches and that the children and the community at large will benefit indeed. Good luck sister!
