Dear Editor,
A few years ago, Guyana came onto the international scene as one of the fastest-growing economies in the developing world due to its oil and petroleum discovery. As a result, the country is making investments in infrastructure, healthcare, and education. A few months ago also, the President of Brazil visited Guyana and expressed hope that the government would effectively balance investments in these sectors with improvements in the quality of life for its citizens. This statement came at a time when teachers had been and continue to be on a countrywide strike demanding higher salaries.
The ongoing issues with the teachers’ strike have caused the closure of many schools, affecting the education of students, especially those in interior and rural areas. This situation has led to concerns about the widening education gap between privileged and marginalized communities. Highlighting a stark contrast between government ministers and no doubt the GTU leadership, who send their children to the best private schools in the city, while underprivileged masses are treated like the wretched of the earth in public schools.
It seems that the government is not bowing to the GTU leaders’ request, raising the question of whether the response would have been different if the union leaders were from a different ethnic group. It’s sad to see that in the twenty-first century, politicians, the government, and unions cannot come to an agreement concerning salary increases when this country is boasting of an oil boom and revenues, while underprivileged children of the rural and hinterland communities are suffering, not attending school, and losing out on meritocratic education.
The education that interior and rural people receive is not the best, and most of us are on the losing end. The ongoing industrial action in education triggered by the government and the teachers’ union is compounding the situation for less fortunate children attending public schools. This may result in most of our children becoming a vulnerable population in the future to skulduggery and manipulation from powers that be using hangouts outs etc. for votes. Perhaps the Government and the GTU want to see a protest by children in this country to return to school soon so that it prompts both to come to a mutual agreement. Only then will they respect the struggling masses/the marginalized underprivileged, demanding their rights in society from the education hegemony in this country.
In conclusion, can the government pay the relevant amount the teachers are demanding and let them return to school to teach the poor children?
Yours sincerely,
Medino Abraham,
MSc, Researcher on Indigenous and
Rural Education in Guyana.