When considering the measures implemented to enhance the lives of teachers, Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo recently noted that salary increases should not be the only area of focus. He said citizens should consider a broader scale of all investments made for the teaching system.
At his recent press conference, he emphasized that viewing increases in teachers’ wages in isolation neglects the significant impact of the government’s overall sectoral improvements on teachers’ working conditions. Jagdeo first noted that since taking office, his administration raised the budget for the education sector by 162 percent. This he said, paved way for a significant increase in wages and salaries in the education sector, noting that the allocation for teachers’ salary increases grew from $24.4 billion in 2020 to $39.4 billion in 2023.
Dr. Jagdeo stated, “On wages and salaries itself in the education sector, how much was it in 2020? It was $24.4 billion. In 2023, the end of 2023, because we have not given the salary increase for this year as yet, it grew to $39.4 billion.”
He further emphasized that the large increase for the education sector was part of a broader strategy to enhance teacher well-being, which included investments in education infrastructure, housing, and upgrade to certain facilities. Additionally, he said initiatives such as salary adjustments, scholarship programs,and duty-free allowances for senior teachers are all aimed at providing better working conditions for the nation’s educators.
“So, we are spending more on almost every single area from training of teachers…Massive sums are going into training to building up the infrastructure. We are building new schools… better classrooms,” he stated.
Further, Jagdeo said approximately $5 billion has been allocated for the construction of three schools in Region One alone, surpassing the entire capital allocation during the previous administration’s tenure.
Moreover, construction projects for Hosororo Secondary, Karasabai Secondary, and North West Secondary Schools are well underway to transform the educational landscape and uplift communities in these areas. Dr. Jagdeo affirmed that significant investments continue to pour into the sector, with numerous schools currently under construction and slated for completion this year, alongside plans for new school constructions.
He also revealed that the government has earmarked over $2.5 billion to procure an additional 502,072 textbooks in 2024, aiming to enhance learning and accessibility nationwide.
Addressing non-salary benefits, Dr. Jagdeo, said graduate teachers with bachelor’s degrees will now receive a monthly stipend of $10,000, while those with master’s and doctorate degrees will receive $20,000 and $30,000 monthly stipends, respectively.
Additionally, senior educators within three years of retirement, previously ineligible for duty-free benefits, are now entitled to duty-free allowances for motor vehicles up to 1500 CC.
These initiatives, complemented by existing benefits such as uniform allowances, training through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) programme, and scholarships to the University of Guyana, underscore the government’s holistic approach to empowering educators and advancing education nationwide according to the Vice President.
Looking ahead, Jagdeo outlined that his government remains committed to providing teachers with the support and resources they need to succeed, ultimately ensuring a high-quality education for all Guyanese students. He was keen to note that Guyana is now an integrated society and as such, salary increases cannot be the only focus.
