Dear Editor,
The recent proposed 6% to 9 % salary increase for teachers in 2024, followed by 8% increases in 2025 and 2026, has been met and rightfully so, with widespread disappointment among fellow Guyanese educators. This response is particularly pronounced given the Guyana Teachers’ Union’s (GTU) demand for a reasonable 39.5% increase in 2024 and subsequent 30% increases for 2025 and 2026. The government’s most ridiculous proposal is viewed as grossly disrespectful and insufficient against the backdrop of our country’s economic growth and the rising cost of living.
Our country is currently experiencing rapid economic growth, driven primarily by our burgeoning oil industry. This growth, it must be stated, has not translated into improvements in the standard of living for the majority of Guyanese, particularly public servants and our teachers. The high cost of living in Guyana exacerbates the inadequacy of the government’s proposed salary increases for teachers.
Most have accepted that teachers are fundamental to the nation’s development, and their remuneration should reflect their essential and important role. A comparative analysis with other Caribbean nations underscores the gross inadequacy of the government’s most unreasonable proposed increases. For instance, a teacher in St Lucia is paid between $3,000 to $3,500 Eastern Caribbean Dollars (ECD), which is equivalent to roughly $1,110 to $1,295 US Dollars as per the current exchange rates. Grenada, a much smaller economy, whose reliance is on spice production, pays its teachers US$1,890 dollars, much more generously than Guyana. What a shame!
This disparity is particularly striking given Guyana’s status as the fastest-growing oil-rich economy, not in the Caribbean, not in South America, but in the world. The government’s proposal appears incongruent with the country’s economic realities and its capacity to offer better remuneration to its educators. The government’s offer of a meager “itsy bitsy” 9% increase in 2024, with subsequent 8% increases in 2025 and 2026, fails with distinction to meet every expectation and needs of teachers.
The proposed increases are most unreasonable and grossly insufficient to offset the extremely high and daily rising cost of living in Guyana. Our teachers demand a more substantial salary increase which is most necessary and needed to ensure that teachers can have and maintain a decent standard of living. Guyana’s rapidly growing oil revenues provide the government with ample resources and fiscal space to offer a more generous and acceptable salary package to teachers and all public servants.
The government continually go to the parliament for more billions of dollars for a failing sugar industry, GuySuCo, whose production cost is much more than the product selling price, but can’t see the wisdom in offering our teachers a better offer. The current proposal by government does not reflect the country’s economic capacity and the potential for better public sector remuneration. The people want more money, it’s that simple.
The leadership of the Guyana Teachers Union must demand and hold firm for a better offer for our teachers, they expect nothing less from you. The proposed increase should be adjusted to account for the high cost of living to help ensure that teachers can meet their basic needs and maintain a reasonable standard of living. Investing in our teachers is an investment in the nation’s future. Adequate compensation is crucial for maintaining teacher morale, attracting skilled educators, and ultimately improving educational outcomes. The government must recognize the strategic importance of investing in education through fair teacher compensation.
Sincerely,
Hon. Jermaine Figueira MP
