Forde blasts Jagdeo’s announcement to give parents cash grant for private schools, refusing to pay teachers

Senior Counsel and Member of Parliament Roysdale Forde has expressed displeasure with the Government’s policy to explore distributing cash grants to parents of public school children to attend private school instead of paying teachers so they could return to the classrooms.

The teachers have been on strike since February 5, with suspension for a short period in hope the government would have respected the Court’s rulings of March 4 and April 19, 2024. The government has instead opted to appeal a ruling that uphold the constitutional right of unionised workers to collective bargaining.

Government’s decision to appeal has left in limbo not only the welfare of the nation’s 15,000 public school teachers but also the children who depend on them for learning the parents who rely on the system to play a custodial role. The decision also has implications for learning loss for Guyana’s children and reduced production at the workplace due to parent’s mental pre-occupation of the welfare of their children who are not in school.

In a blistering critique of the policy Forde, in a statement, said at the core of the issue lies a stark reality, the willingness of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic government to expend considerable resources to accommodate children from striking public schools in private institutions rather than engage in meaningful collective bargaining with the teachers.

Going further the senior counsel, who along with attorney Darren Wade won a landmark victory for the teachers last April, said the policy is shortsighted. According to him, the approach not only fails to address the root cause of the problem- the need for fair compensation and working conditions for teachers- but also systemic inequalities within the education system.

According to the senior counsel, the implications of government’s decision extend far beyond the immediate impact on striking teachers and their students. “It erodes trust in our education system, destroys the morale of our dedicated educators, and put at risk the future of our children; our leaders of tomorrow.”

Forde said by neglecting to prioritise the needs of the public school system, the government is failing in its duty to ensure equal access to quality education for all.

See full statement below

Press Statement

Roysdale Forde S.C. M.P.

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PPP/C Government’s Announcement About Paying for Children Enrolled In Public Schools To Attend Private Schools

As our educators continue to be firm in their demand for the PPP/C government to respect and regard their constitutional right to collective bargaining and decent salaries, the recent announcement by Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, at his recent press conference, have once again demonstrated a worrying misalignment of priorities. The announcement of such a indecent and crude contemplation to explore e- schooling options for private schools in the wake of strike action by our teachers in public school system not only highlights a terrifying disregard for the educators, who tirelessly serve our local communities but also accentuates a troubling trend of mismanagement of taxpayer dollars. The incumbent regime’s language is working class but its ascent is disenfranchisement.

At the core of this issue lies a stark reality: the government’s willingness to expend considerable resources to accommodate children from striking public schools in private institutions rather than engage in meaningful collective bargaining with our educators. This shortsighted approach not only fails to address the root cause of the problem- the need for fair compensation and working conditions for teachers- but also systemic inequalities within our education system. In reality the government is saying, in colloquial language, to ‘hell’ with those, teachers who choose to take action to persuade this authoritarian government to honour their right to collective bargaining which is enshrined in the constitution, which the government swore to uphold and defend.

By opting for a quick fix than investing in sustainable solutions, the government is effectively undermining the very foundation of our education system. Instead of pritorising the well- being and professional development of our educators, they are resorting to stopgap measures that do little to address the systemic issues plaguing our schools.

Moreover, this approach sends a troubling message to both educators and students alike. It suggests that the government views education as a commodity rather than a fundamental right, one that can be outsourced to the highest bidder rather than nurtured and supported through meaningful investment.

The implications of this decision extend far beyond the immediate impact on striking teachers and their students. It erodes trust in our education system, destroys the morale of our dedicated educators, and put at risk the future of our children; our leaders of tomorrow. By neglecting to prioritize the needs of our public school system, the government is failing in its duty to ensure equal access to quality education for all.

More, the government’s reluctance to engage in constructive dialogue with educators not only exacerbates existing tensions but also hinders progress towards long- term solutions and genuine and real improvements in our public education system.

Collective bargaining is a cornerstone of democracy, allowing workers to advocate for fair wages and working conditions. By circumventing this process, and imposing increases closest to zero; mere bagatelles, the government is effectively disenfranchising teachers and denying them the opportunity to voice their concerns.

I urge citizens, to speak out against this misguided approach and advocate for policies that prioritise the well- being of our educators and the success of our children. It is only though collective action and strong commitment to the principles of fairness and equality can we hope to build a brighter future for generations to come.