Hours after talks between the Ministry of Education and the Guyana Teachers’ Union broke down today after the two sides could not agree on the period of salary increases to be examined, the Education Ministry is sticking to its position that negotiations on salary matters would have to be from this year and onwards.

The GTU continues to press for salary increases for the period 2019 to 2023 in keeping with its multi-year proposal which was submitted in 2020, to be examined first.

The Education Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Shannielle Hoosein-Outar, in defending the Government’s position explained that increases for the prior years would have financial implications.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Education, the 2024 national budget does not have the fiscal space to accommodate the retroactive payment of salaries for teachers during the period 2019 – 2023.

The statement said the Permanent Secretary has requested that the Union’s representatives submit to the Ministry a proposal which would capture their request for a multiyear agreement commencing from this year.

With the GTU and the Government both holding firm to their respective positions, the talks broke down. The Government is now claiming that the union has abandoned the process, as it maintains that the 2019 -2023 period must be examined first.

The Education Ministry said it should be noted that during the prior years, teachers have benefited from salary increases, and salary adjustments that reflect teachers’ qualifications.

The Ministry has also stated that various initiatives were introduced to the benefit of teachers across the country and that added to the disposable income of the teachers, as well as their welfare.

The Ministry of Education said it remains committed to continuing dialogue with the Guyana Teachers’ Union.

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