Comments on: The Ministry of Education needs to get its priorities right

By: Optimist

Optimist — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 19:50:27 +0000

I agree with you. Too much paper work when real issues in education are neglected. Have we not grown as educators? We are in the 21st century.

The Education Officers need to prove themselves to educators and the East Berbice public. Sad to say, many of us are unimpressed with their performance and would like to see effective management. I wonder how many of those officers who set the laws in East Berbice can actually teach a class and effectively manage it. I wish I could see them in action. Even with a Bachelor’s degree some officers CANNOT get their verbs right in some instances. What a shame to hear them “murdering” the English Language!

Perhaps some of them were oriented to believe that managing a region is all about proving how arrogant they can be towards teachers because after all, “I am entrusted with ‘POWER’ and I am a very IMPORTANT person”

By: Caesar Agustus

Caesar Agustus — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 01:59:09 +0000

If they cannot get their priorities right, what the hell were they doing all this time? Getting their priorities wrong. Is that it?

By: Ulric

Ulric — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:19:26 +0000

Again, money is not the answer. When more money is paid to the workers there is a corresponding raise in cost of living. Net effect ZERO. You mention the drug boys. They too will want their piece; the price of the packet will go up. What then? According to you..MORE MONEY. Oh! BTW, your remittance to your relatives will have to be more,and more,and more. . LOL Get the idea Greg? ISNM

By: Gtdonna

Gtdonna — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:52:12 +0000

Hmm just a thought Ulric, are you the scrabble master?

By: GREG

GREG — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 07:24:27 +0000

Theo is the one who is with me on this, not Ulric., Sorry

By: GREG

GREG — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 07:20:50 +0000

I maintain my stance on higher salaries. Ulric is seeing it my way. Drug pushers, money launders and bounty hunters are dictating the status quo when it comes to “spendability” my friends. Honest teachers, policemen and nurses look like paupers when they approach the store or must socialise. We have to find a way to de-emphasize dirty money by making the hard working honest person confortable financially. Not rich, but they must be able to get by the normal way – work a few years, get a house, buy a car, go on decent vocasions, save some money for rainy days, looking forward to a reasonable pension – before dirty money took over.

This nonsense about love for job do not hold up to reality in GT. Who is going to stick to a loving job when the renumeration do not allow you to take your wife on a date but your drugpushing neighbour is buying expensive things for his wife, flying her to Barbados and the US every quarter and is even trying to get yours. That’s the reality of the environment in Guyana. It a new game out there. It not about keeping up with the Jones’ now, it is about keeping up with the Khans.

Reasonable salaries will see more qualified persons applying, even some overseas persons who want to get away from the hectic life. We have to pick away at the dirty money syndrome by establishing an association of the honest hard working earners. When hard working honest people can lift their heads high then and only then we can combat this get rich quick mentality, which is destroying our youths and country.

However my thinking maybe way above the heads of the powers that be. There is no long term plan for anything, (except remaining in power) much less on education, which is generating these blogs.

By: malaika06

malaika06 — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 02:55:23 +0000

My Amerindian brother, you are a man after my own heart. You are so right. We Guyanese have to start “owning our problems and responsibilities”. And this is not confined to any specific area, whether it be education or crime.

On the other hand, Greg and Theo have made some excellent points. Uncle Ulric is stuck in “his” time.

Reading Suseran’s letter was just an extension of what happened at Stella Maris at the beginning of the new school year and I’m sure a problem that not only exists in New Amsterdam.

By: malaika06

malaika06 — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 02:41:10 +0000

Uncle Ulric

With all due respect to you, “organizational hierarchies; chain of command” my foot!!!!! That’s why Guyana is still as backward as where it is now. Although I don’t particularly like Mr. Suseran’s politics, I respect him for the professional he is and the job he does.

Uncle Ulric, who feels it knows and there’s no way, no way at all you can compare “your time” as a civil servant to that what obtains today. Back then, we had REAL leaders. Guyanese were morally grounded and MANY were proud to be called a Teacher, a Nurse or policeman.

Now, today,? That’s highly debatable

By: Juan Gabriel

Juan Gabriel — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 02:28:12 +0000

“Action plan my foot.” Does the ministry of education have any sense of direction? They need to stop fooling themselves with the accolades they heap upon themselves.

By: Juan Gabriel

Juan Gabriel — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 02:25:17 +0000

“Rome burned while Nero fiddled!”

By: dr know

dr know — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:22:16 +0000

Teachers never entered the teaching profession where most of their time is taken up with red tape As we all know when red tape outweighs the primary cause a lot of children’s education will be affected big time. We have a system whereby everyone gets paid but the main subject which is the children suffer. Every time they come up with some plan is more paperwork and the children lose out and the teachers feels they are failing the kids. When a generation of kids come out of school illiterate the teachers and parents gets the blame for the failings. Let the theachers teach and get an administrator to do the redtape. Guyana children is already losing out on education so lets cut the BS. I hope when he comes up with his action plan his core purpose on his mind will be the kids

By: Caesar Agustus

Caesar Agustus — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:10:14 +0000

Yes, like they ever had it right before.

By: Georgie

Georgie — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:50:41 +0000

Mr. Ulric ! This is nothing to do with aesthetics. This has everything to do with practical applications which requires professional expertise.

By: Theo

Theo — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:18:35 +0000

I disagree that money is not the answer. “Love of the job” cannot meet rising costs of basic commodities. Added to this is the subliminal capitalistic messages filling our media. Globalization has made us aware of what our professional peers earn and the perks that come with their jobs. When compared to the paltry rewards of GT’s public swervants, that would sink morale of even the most dedicated among us.

Greg has a good point- Increased salaries will encourage increased competition for these jobs and then we can weed out those that cannot produce.

Also, I’m shocked at the conditions described by Leon. Afterall, if you listen to some bloggers on SN- GT is way better in the last 16 years than the previous 28.

By: James

James — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:05:42 +0000

did the authorities ever visit your school? were u there to raise these issues with them? If u did what were their response?

By: Ulric

Ulric — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:20:21 +0000

You are so right in your observation and soloution. But the problem with Leon’s school is more far ranging than dealing with disruptive children. Leaon talks about, no running water in the school, no bathroom, no teaching aids, no security, no parent involvement, and especially the non-involvement of the Ministry for not providing soloutions to the school’s problems, even after every officer of the the Region’s education ministry/department was told several times of the conditions that existed in his school. As an educator who worked in the education sector in your State of residence in the United States, could you honestly tell us blogers that you would be saying “that the ministry/education could not micro-manage the schools and that less Government intervention is the way to go”. I guess not. ISNM

By: Ulric

Ulric — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:55:05 +0000

More money is not the answer Greg. Love of the job is the principal element. You have to love what you are doing. In addition, every Govt run organization in Guyana has suffered from the brain drain. As a result, the overlap in terms of job functionality and experience is absent. Hence the detoriation in job performance. No increase in salary can fill this vacum. Whatever job skills were acquired by long serving employees were not passed on primarily because many departments were improperly structured and fair labor standards were not applied. Addaed to those elements are factors of cohesiveness and morale. As an example, examine Leon Suseran’s letter. It is quite evident that morale is extremely low in his school, not because they are not paid adequately, but because there is no cohesive soloutions to the mountain of problems the school faces. I was hard on he and his headmistress, but what can those professionals do even if they are paid ten times their salary. Although Leon referred to me as an “outsider”, and he further provided his status in his school, I got the distinct impression that he may is not be too concerned about his current salary.salary. To sum it up Greg, pension plan, salary increase and the other perks you made reference to are not the producivity motivators or producers. I think that the Leon Suseran’s of Guyana get too big a dose of the autocratic method of management, Blame their ministries and tell them to change their approach to management. Tell them to be more consultative and participative. The big stick method is not working. So, Greg. ISNM

By: reginald chee-a-tow

reginald chee-a-tow — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:43:23 +0000

As a teacher of 45 years,I can empathise with Mr.Suseran.I have seen it all,both ib Guyana and in the United States,but the solution to the problem is not more governmental intrusion-the Ministry of Education cannot micro-manage theschools.Each school is a community of teachers,parents,students,community leaders.Leave out one of these and there is trouble.what we need here is for the stake holders to come together and fight this problem collectively.Believe me,when the community takes an active role in the education of its children,wonders can ensue.I have witnessed this time and time again.The successful school has a close relationhip with its community.sometimes parents of disruptive students are required to sit in the classroom-give this a try and see the difference it makes.

By: John Lennon

John Lennon — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:32:25 +0000

This administration has allocated the largest budget on Education in Guyana’s history. This administration is presently spending millions to educate leaders in education in a Masters program. A program of quality effected by UG in collaboration with Nova Southeastern University of Florida. A program in which 95% of the students can be profiled as anti-ppp. This is investment in Education. For anyone to say differently, the facts sir, exposes your innate polarized perspective of the administration. Nothing then will be to your satisfaction. Mr Suseran is professionally unethical. His juvenile display is not worthy of his profession. I agree with Ulric.

By: John Lennon

John Lennon — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:13:24 +0000

Anyone can complain., anyone. The world is full of complainers. It takes a person of substance to make a change in his situation. Could Mr Suseran tell us what he is doing to make his class diferent? His School different? Maybe he could start by preparing lesson plans. Mr Suseran also has a history in the press of complaining. Maybe he can legitimize his concerns by making just one effort to rectify his situation without complaining that others need to fix it for him. A teacher is in a position of great potential to effect change.
Babies demand others must meet their needs. Adults go out and get. Such display of juvenile tendencies are not complementary with the noble profession . Take my advice, qiut it.

By: Macushi Tiwama

Macushi Tiwama — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:33:35 +0000

Leon – I can relate to your concern/situation.
Last year I was home in my village of Katoka in the Rupununi for three days. My little family and I decided that we take one of those days to do a service to the community. We volunteered – my wife and son went to kindergarten to assist my sister in law and I went to assist in 6th grade class (where concentration was on math problems) and two more lower classes that were kept in a thatched roofed building with no floor( where basic phonics were shared) in the Primary school.
It is known that any government cannot do every thing for its people. But I am firm believer that we as people should meet it half way. This was echoed by US President elect Barak Obama through out his campaign and again at his victory speech that people need to meet the government half way. When he said that he will do every thing possoble to improve education system but he cannot be a father nor a mother to tell the children to turn off Tv’s to do their homework.
May be we need to involve the parents/villagers/public/past students to go and meet the government half way.
My son’s elementry school has a fund raising committee that does fund raising activity at least every month. For example they organize some thing called “Spirit Feast’ at one of the eating places ( of course the restaurant is a supporter of the education system) where parents can have, at a reduced price, a dinner for the family to raise fund for the school.
May be – you as a AM can think of involving parents in their children’s education – to raise funds to buy boards to build school furnature/ to volunteer at the school (in classes/or do some thing that can enhance the school’s situation).
Both my wife and I volunteer in our son’s school. Every other week I do Maths Super Star.
Currently I am working on setting up a library for my village- children/adults(mind you there was no school when I attained school age in my village so I had to walk 10 miles almost every weekend at the age of 6 to go and see my parents and back to school – Yupukari). I am pretty sure there are lots of past students who are in high positions/doing businesses or become ‘outsiders’ who can come togther to save their old school from falling down.
I am sure your school has a PTA that can reach ‘outside’ for assistance – financially and other wise. Are you one of the old students of the school? If so or not encourage some to formed an Old Student Association that can reach out to all the past students who I am ceratinly can become involved once your school is organized.
Education of children is not the sole duty of a teacher but it involves parents and others.
As a former teacher of ‘outside’ school – let me share – I built furniture for my class room and painted it. I raised fund for my class to purchae materials needed and snacks for students who went without meal. If we love educating the children we can go far beyond the class room door.
You are not alone. If you so love your ‘children’ get others involved and work towards eliminating the problem(as suggested above). Your running away from the problem would not solve the problem you highlighted.

By: GREG

GREG — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:26:59 +0000

This administration is still to put together an educational team to compare with the previous admin., even though that admin is supposed to be the worst in 28 years. My favorite was Ceciline Baird followed by Shirley Field Ridley. We changed admin. and we dropped Deryck Bernard. Dale Bisnauth tried but he was not ready for the aforementioned crew. When we dropped the Community High school concept and di-emphasied the “Common entrance” I knew we were going in the wrong direction.

Having said that I must note that both admins. made glaring mistakes in governance with their approach to education, crime fighting and the army. The mistake of giving paltry salaries to these groups ensures that we do not secure the best brains. Millions of dollars are wasted for substandard work – and it keep going on and on. It is penny wise and pound foolish.

Tripple the salary of the Police and army, double that of the teachers and nurses, add accountability and a favourable pension package and watch everything fall in place. Give people salaries they can ill afford to lose and watch them produce.

Where the money is going to come from? Let’s start with the Police. If they can ill afford to take a bribe we will be seeing renenue from law breaking citizens. Millions of dollars of intended Govt. revenue go out in bribes so that the ordinary law enforcers can send their spouses to shop along side the drug pusher and mimibus drivers and owners. Emagine our law enforcer can bearly afford a “banks” while the average “baller” sporting on Heineken and Hennessey.

Better salaries for teachers means more qualified and talented students joining the force and the work place. If bribing cannot take place crime will go down. If crime goes down investors will come. Investors come in and there is a qualified work force in place. Investments and qualified workers leads to increased revenue to pay for the high salaries. Increased revenue leads to a developing nation.

By: Ulric

Ulric — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:30:03 +0000

Georgie, you don’t have to be a painter to enjoy a painting. ISNM

By: Ulric

Ulric — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:26:14 +0000

Leon, if you have to bring these inefficiencies in the functionality of your school to the attention of your headmistress, and she did not make prior representation to the ministry about same, my thought is that she is not fit to be headmistress.
Her response to you when you apprised her of your decision to write an open letter to the press, should have one that clearly demanded of you that you understand organizational hierarchies and the role of authority and responsibility in carrying out managerial functions. Your headmistress failed the management test 101. Maybe not. Maybe thats the way things are done in the public schools in Guyana.
Look, Leon, I am not faulting you totally. You did what you thought was necessary under the circumstances. BTW, I am no outsider. I spent a great part of my working life, all seventy of it, in service to my nation. When a serving teaching professional like yourself goes to the length you have gone to to inform the nation of the deplorable situation in your school, we (citizens,even if we are called outsiders) must support you. We want to hear about the fall-out. ISNM