The turn out rate for teachers on Wednesday was high, as schools across the country returned to a state of normalcy following the four-week strike action by teachers.

In a brief telephone interview with News Source, General Secretary of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), Coretta McDonald said teachers reported for school in large numbers today. 

“I know quite a lot of teachers turned out today, some are going to be out tomorrow but quite a lot of them turned out today,” McDonald said. 

 A request for information on the turn-out rates for both teachers and students from the Ministry of Education was met with silence. However, when News Source visited a number of schools in the city, full classes were in session. 

A head teacher of one of the primary schools in the city, told News Source that the numbers were encouraging.

“The turn out is much better than it was for the last few weeks. The last few weeks, you were getting between 95 to 100 [pupils], most of them Grade Six, but today, it is about 400 plus. This is a school with more than 600 children. So, it has been a lot better,” the head teacher said. 

According to that headteacher, all of the teachers, with the exception of one who is on medical leave, reported for duty.

 The full resumption of schools is as a result of an agreement reached between the Ministry of Education and the Guyana Teachers’ Union during a mediation process ordered by High Court Judge, Sandil Kissoon. 

The two sides, agreed on Monday, that the four-week strike would come be called off with immediate effect, and talks on a number of issues, including that of salary increases for teachers, would commence within 48 hours of the resumption of work by the teachers. 

The first meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, March 6 at the Ministry of Education’s Brickdam Office. 

Ahead of that meeting, McDonald assured that the union will be making a strong case for teachers to receive a substantial increase in salaries, and other benefits. 

“We just want teachers to be confident that we are going in there to come out with a win-win, which would be beneficial to them, and we want them to be reassured that their welfare is our first priority,” the GTU General Secretary said.

According to the agreement, the discussions are expected to take place for a “reasonable period of time.”

The Union, however, is hopeful that the Government, will be swift in its response, to issues facing teachers. 

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