McDonald paints grim picture of school system

…cites hungry children in classrooms, underpaid teachers, violence among students

By Zena Henry budget 2023 perpetuates

in classrooms hungry and increases

The disrespect underpaid teachers and don’t know where their next that has been meted out to Opposition Member of hungry children in mealiscomingfromwhilein teachers has added another Parliament (MP) and classrooms, adding that the and out of schools, students layer to their plight, the General Secretary of the education system is plagued arefightingteachers,parents Opposition,”MPsaid. Guyana Teachers’ Union by violence in schools and are fighting teachers and Shereminded,thatitwas (GTU) Coretta McDonald the burning of the learning studentsagainstteachers. Education Minister Priya called for better treatment of institutions. “Education in “Teachers are reporting Manickchand some years the country’s teachers as she crisis,” the MP and union for duty under stress ago, who told teachers in withheld support for the leader said She told everyday…theycan’tafford New Amsterdam to leave 2023 budget when the parliamentarians that every to pay their rent; it is too their jobs if they don’t like debates continued on dayschoolchildrenarebeing high. Teachers are left to theirpay “That’sverycaring

Thursday found with various weapons struggle through the month and concerned,” McDonald

McDonald told the when their bags are with low salaries as they said sarcastically She said National Assembly that searched, children are sitting watch other workers get teachersinthesystemcannot turn to the education environment where labour ministry for help because it laws are not being enforced, has become politicised, and workers can’t get where friends and favourite assistance from the ministry are given preference. She officers. She said workers said professionals are being arebeinglaidoffwithoutany sidelined while “the full course for redress. “Given Peter principle is in effect.” the anti-working-class The most incompetent she nature of this government, continued, are rising to the workers do not expect any top. improvement in the fiscal Burning of Schools yearofspending,”theGTU-

On the issue of the General Secretary said. She burning of schools, said the fundamental flaw of McDonald said the the budget as it relates to Opposition condemns such labour lies with the acts but insisted that every g o v e r n m e n t n o t time the current government understanding the ultimate is in place, there are fires at liberation of the workingschools She said the class. “And this liberation question must be asked why does not lie with handouts they are burning before andanincreaseof$3000and suggesting that the schools $4000 in their salaries,” do sit on prime lands. The McDonald opined. She said union leader pleaded for the small man and woman measurestobeputinplaceto must be able to feel whole. stopthefires.“Dosomething “The only way that can be to convince us that you care done… is through equity and that you are concerned,” Nowhere in the budget is the theMPsaid.Shesaidschools word equity mentioned in a are also economic zones for significant way,” McDonald smallvendorsandoperators. said, adding the right of Labour Pains workers to the collective

Asitrelatestolabour,the bargaining process is also General Secretary said the absent. The MP said that sectorisinastateofdisrepair workers’ wages must not be as workers have become subjectedtothe‘whimsand sacrificial lambs in an (Continued on page 3)