At the Nationwide Guyana Teachers Union’s fourth day of strike action, Ms. Nima Flue-Bess, a teacher and member of parliament, listed several difficulties that teachers continue to experience as a motivating factor for their continued strike.
She referenced the deplorable state of secondary school fields, such as St. Joseph’s High School, where she presently teaches, as well as the quality of resources provided by the Ministry of Education to aid the delivery of lessons in Physical Education which is her area of specilisation.
The MP emphasized the Ministry of Education’s policy for cleaning and maintaining school grounds, which only allows for cleaning twice per term, at the start and at the halfway point. According to her, this regulation has an impact on education delivery because pupils are deprived of learning and performing sports that are part of the curriculum. She also urged the Ministry to implement protocols like those seen in reputable grounds across the country to ensure that school grounds are properly maintained.
Ms. Flue-Bess mentioned that the Ministry of Education’s supplies are of such poor quality that they are frequently broken, leaving educators and parents scrambling to replace these goods to ensure that pupils do not miss out on learning opportunities.
She was adamant that teachers will continue to advocate for higher compensation and better working conditions.