Adelphi-born and Goed Bananen Land – raised, Tamesh Mohabir is a scholar, leader, and family man. He has walked a path marked by resilience, humility, and a love for education that he never expected to find. Today, as the Head of Department (Industrial Technology) at New Amsterdam Multilateral School, he looks back on 17 years of teaching with gratitude for the journey and the countless students whose lives he has touched.
Tamesh’s academic journey is a testament to perseverance. From Adelphi Nursery and Rose Hall Estate Primary to New Amsterdam Multilateral Secondary, Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE), New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI), and the University of Guyana Berbice Campus (UGBC), he collected not only certificates but also medals of honor for his hard work.
In 2015, Tamesh was the valedictorian of the Cyril Potter College of Education, which earned him the Prime Minister’s Medal. In 2021, he became the valedictorian of the University of Guyana Berbice Campus and received the President’s Medal. At the New Amsterdam Technical Institute, he stood out as the Best Graduating Student in Mechanical Engineering Part I in 2018.
Beyond academics, Tamesh is a husband and father of one. He is also the manager of the Multi Royals Cricket Team and assistant sports representative at the New Amsterdam Multilateral Secondary School. He also lectured part-time at CPCE and the University of Guyana Institute of Distance and Continuing Education.
“Teaching was never my first choice,” Tamesh admits. “It was supposed to be a one-year job to save money before I pursued engineering. But circumstances changed, and in time, I fell in love with teaching.”
That love grew from watching students discover their potential and celebrating their victories. “The joy of helping students succeed, became my inspiration,” he says.
Behind every great teacher is often another teacher who lit the way. For Tamesh, that was Mr. Romel Hughes, his Industrial Technology teacher at NA Multi.
“My father passed away when I was three, so I grew up without that guidance. Mr. Hughes filled that void. He was more than a teacher; he was a father figure,” Tamesh recalls.
He remembers Mr. Hughes not just for his discipline and encouragement, but for his sacrifices. “Many times, when our classes lacked materials, he used his own money so we could finish our SBA projects. He made us feel that Industrial Technology mattered, even when others overlooked it.”
To this day, whenever Tamesh faces challenges in the classroom, he asks himself: What would Sir Romel do?
Every teacher has a defining moment when they realize they’ve found their calling. For Tamesh, that moment came in 2010, after his third-form students received their National Examination results.
“They came running, waving their slips, shouting, ‘Sir, we passed Math; it’s all because of you!’” he recalls. “These were students who had struggled for years. Seeing their joy and gratitude, I knew right then, teaching was where I belonged.”
For Tamesh, the greatest reward is simple but profound: “When a student says, ‘Thank you, sir, without you I wouldn’t have made it, ’ that’s worth more than any paycheck.”
But the journey hasn’t been without challenges. In the early years, he had to pursue his own training and qualifications while teaching full-time. Later came the struggle with limited resources, often spending his own money to ensure his students could learn effectively.
Today, the challenge is different: adapting to Gen Z learners in a rapidly changing, post-pandemic world. “Teaching now requires new approaches, especially in discipline and engagement. I spend time researching and reading to better connect with this generation. It’s an ongoing process, but it works.”
His message to young people considering teaching is clear: “Teaching is one of the most rewarding careers. But do it because you want to, not just because it’s a job. Even if it starts as temporary, give it your all. Love the job, because once you love it, you will find it deeply fulfilling.”
He leaves future educators with three words to live by: Patience, Understanding, and Tolerance (P.U.T).
While Guyana celebrated Education Month in September, grateful students celebrate their teachers, every day, and long after they have left their comfort and support. The story of Tamesh Mohabir reminds us of the profound impact teachers make, not only through lessons taught in classrooms but through sacrifices, guidance, and the inspiration they pass on.
From a boy in Adelphi who once dreamed of a career in engineering to a man shaping future generations, Tamesh embodies the spirit of teaching, proving that sometimes, the paths we least expect lead us exactly where we are meant to be.
