Education Ministry launches Welfare and Benefits programme for teachers

Teachers across the country are set to benefit from a Ministry of Education Teachers’ Welfare and Support Programme which will see over 150 companies partnering with the Ministry to offer discounts and special deals to the nation’s teachers.

The project was officially launched today by the Ministry of Education. It was explained that benefits range from health insurance to internet services.

Telecommunications provider GTT is onboard with the initiative and under the plan, teachers who sign up for GTT’s Fiber internet service will be offered free installation.

Other companies are offering discount vouchers for purchases.

To benefit from the project, teachers have to sign up through the Ministry of Education.

Education Specialist and former Chief Education Officer Olato Sam is spearheading the project. He said he hopes it will not only lift the spirits of teachers but lead to better productivity.

“Teachers play a critical role, in the development of our nation. It is our expectation at the Ministry of Education that the teachers will go about their responsibilities with a level of commitment and dedication that will ensure the delivery of the highest quality of education across this nation. The well-being therefore of our teachers plays a critical role in ensuring this”, Mr. Sam said.

He said the hope of the project is to lend much-needed support to the nation’s teachers while thanking them for the work they do.

“This initiative encompasses a comprehensive approach towards improving the overall circumstances under which our teachers practice in this noble profession,” Mr. Sam said.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand said the project is aimed at uplifting the well-being of the nation’s teachers.

“My commitment to you today here is that we will support your professional development, fully, you have my promise on that. We will hold your hands through any obstacles you believe you have in the classroom. We will try to fix it strategically and timely, not four years down the line. We will try to fix the resource deficit.”

Manickchand said teachers should sign on to the programme and reap the benefits as they are expected to have a long-term impact.

“This is not a response, this is genuine interest in checking to see what we can do for you so that you(teachers) can do your work when you get into the classroom and you will see much, much more of that”, she said.

The launching of the project today comes at a time when the Ministry of Education and the Guyana Teachers Union are at loggerheads over the government’s vaccination policy which has resulted in a number of unvaccinated teachers being locked out of their schools.