Region Seven teachers updated on Ministry of Education’s policies and practices

As part of the Ministry of Education's Regional Education Officers' three-day meeting in Bartica, the team engaged some 200 educators on Wednesday at the Three Miles Secondary School. 

The interface with officials of the Ministry was used to update the educators on Education policies and practices. In addition, the forum was used to address queries and sought clarification on professional issues pertaining to furthering the cause for Edification delivery and development.

Teachers were drawn from schools in the Lower Mazaruni area representing the nursery, primary and secondary levels. Schools represented include Batavia, Itabali, Kartabo, Karrau Creek, Makouria, Holy Name, St John the Baptiste Primary, St Anthony's Primary, Agatash, Two Miles Primary, Precious Gems Nursery, Hill View, Beach View and Future Builders.

The Secondary level representatives were drawn from Bartica and Three Miles Secondary. The meeting is the first in 16 years. Deputy Chief Education Officer Administration, Ms. Donna Chapman in commending the region for its hospitality noted that Region seven moved from six to 100 individual passes in mathematics at the 2017 National Grade Six Examination through the Ministry's mathematics intervention. "We commend you for this achievement but we must not get comfortable as we have to focus on getting better even as we are encouraging you to focus on grades 4, 5 and 6," Ms. Chapman said.

Further, in her remarks, she encouraged teachers to not forget the need for students to be able to matriculate at all levels.

Addressing another issue, Ms. Chapman said that violence in the schools is a sore point that must be addressed through health and family life education. "Our role is to also provide our students with social skills beyond the academic subjects. We also need to pay greater attention to children; maintaining the ratio even when they are at break..." Ms. Chapman said.

She implored the teachers to pay greater attention to students and to discuss and ventilate to make schooling a safe environment for children.

She also underscored the importance of teachers' attendance and punctuality. "You must stop arriving late to school and you must be prepared with the prerequisite skills to teach your lessons.... I am begging you to teach the children under your charge...head teachers you must manage your schools". Ms. Chapman encouraged teachers to read about the Ministry's policies to promote the President's vision for a good life for all Guyanese.