Following the recent incident involving Venezuelan students at Queenstown Secondary School, General Secretary of the Guyana Teachers’ Union, Coretta McDonald, and Chief Education Officer, Saddam Hussain have both shared their perspectives on the issue.
While emphasizing the importance of recognizing and addressing the unique needs of foreign students, particularly those who may not speak English fluently, McDonald pointed out that the majority of teachers are not trained to deal with language barriers or other issues faced by foreign students. This she said then leads to frustration and misunderstandings in the classroom. The General Secretary stressed the need for more resources, including floating teachers who can assist with language translation and support for these students.