The Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) General Council is against plans by the Ministry of Education to have schools reopen next week Monday to facilitate preparation classes for the National Grade Six Assessment and the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC).
The GTU made its position known on the issue this morning via a press statement. It reasoned that it arrived at this decision given the fact that Guyana’s COVID-19 situation remains fluid.
In the statement, the GTU noted that positive cases in Guyana remain at 154 and this poses a threat to the wellbeing of all Guyanese whose desire is to remain healthy.
The GTU is, therefore, advising teachers to remain in the safety of their homes and continue to give virtual support to learners as they finalize their preparations for their respective examinations.
“There should be no sense of guilt felt by any teacher since the union’s recommendations to have these examinations written at a later date fell on deaf ears” the statement added.
The GTU said it remains committed to the development of Guyana by way of an educated nation, but cannot risk the lives of dedicated educators, their families, and children.
Further, the GTU reminds every teacher that victimization measures will be resisted in the strongest possible way.
Hence, the Union made it clear that it will fight to uphold the right to life for every member.
GTU urges teaches to remain safe and continue to follow the health protocols established by WHO and supported by the Ministry of Public Health here in Guyana.
The MoE, having received the official time table from the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), announced that the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) will be held on the 1st and 2nd July 2020.
Meanwhile, the dates for Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) have been given as 13th July 2020- 4th August 2020 and 13th July–31st July 2020 respectively.
These examinations will be written using a paper-based modality.
