-Baksh
Minister of Education, Shaik Baksh yesterday announced that the hosting of extra lessons on the premises of public schools will soon be prohibited.
At a special meeting with parents of students who attend schools in the North-East Georgetown Educational District, he told the gathering: “I intend to place a ban on any extra lessons in the schools”. The Minister was responding to a question posed by a parent who queried the Ministry’s stance on extra lessons.
Baksh stated that the Ministry intended to implement this decision shortly, and said that a circular will be sent out next month to the different schools in the country. The Minister explained that if the teachers wanted to hold extra lessons at other venues they were free to do this, but emphasised that the Ministry will no longer tolerate the hosting of the lessons at schools. He said that the “lessons syndrome is hitting the educational system hard” and expressed the belief that many of the teachers who offer extra lessons after school, often short-change their students during the normal school hours.
This announcement was greeted with a loud applause from the large gathering of parents present in the auditorium of the St. Joseph High School. Some were heard voicing open approval at the Minister’s statement.
Meanwhile, the Minister stated that from the 1st September 2009, the Ministry is hoping to have all of the Community High Schools transformed to Secondary schools. He also said that special resources would be dedicated to these schools in an attempt to improve the academic results of its students. According to Baksh, he feels that the best teachers should be sent to these schools but when it was suggested that some teachers from the Grade A and B schools be sent to these underachieving schools, the Guyana Teacher’s Union objected.
Meanwhile, Baksh also addressed the complaint raised by another parent that students were being seriously affected by teachers who were attending classes at the University of Guyana during school hours. He identified this as a major problem affecting schools and said that the Ministry was doing its best to address the issue. He explained that each school had a quota of teachers that could be allowed attend the University and urged the schools to stick to the agreed numbers. The Minister also said that the Ministry of Education had held discussions with officials from the University to see if the classes which comprised a large number of teachers as students could be shifted so that they began at 2 pm or later. He said that while the Ministry wanted better qualified teachers, this must not be to the detriment of their students.
When the matter of inadequate furniture being provided at schools was raised, Baksh said that this too was a major problem issue plaguing the school system. He said that the Ministry had spent all of the $25M allotted in the budget for this purpose. He explained that in addition to this money that was spent, there were five contractors who had built 500 additional units of furniture and said that the Food for the Poor had donated 200 more units. He, however, stated that the administration of the schools had to share some of the blame for the problems with furniture. According to him, during the last term the Planning Department sent out correspondence to the Head Teachers of the various schools asking them what was needed by the school for the new academic year. But only about 50% of the schools responded Baksh said. He told those gathered that if the Ministry is not informed, it will be unable to meet the needs of the schools.
This meeting with parents was the first of several such consultations which are slated to be held during this month as part of Education Month activities. (Mark McGowan)
I don’t know why you guys banging the teachers. I know most of them mean well. Look at it this way…….. If some of you parents spend quality time with your children there wouldn’t be a need for you to send them to extra lessons.
Another thing, you parents out there, have you ever tried explaining “surds” or “the symmetrical functions of the roots of an equation”? ?????????
When I was in school, there was extra lesson; my parent could not afford to pay; so when student like me, that really needed the help did not get it. During class the teachers would favor the children that knew the work (these students was the ones who had extra lessons, many times with that same teacher). when I came to the U.S., I was suprise how small the classes were and there was extra help free of charge if you need it. Me that same student that was failing in school; beginning making C’s, move up to B’s and even some A’s.
The problem is there are too many students to one teacher in the caribbean countries.
All children are not equal!! Children learn at different speeds and during the school day curriculum goals have to be met by the teachers hence only the students capable of keeping that goal oriented pace will absorb enough to succeed.
After school ‘lessons’ have been a part of Guyana’s education system for as long as I could remember and I don’t see it becoming unnecessary simply because the ‘learned’ Minister says so!!
It’s just a matter of setting up how to do it away from the school property because it seems that the gov”t does not want it done on their property (emphasis on their).
The parents and teachers need to get together and work out a way to get it done!
all you folks out there running teachers down and in reality you cannot compare guyana teachers and the US ones. because the system in the US take care of or at least try to take care of their teachers .i think you guys forget where you came from and the screwed up system teachers in guyana have to contend with , but still most of the time when your children enter the US and else where they usually are ahead of the game . so people tell the ministry of education to take of our teachers then you put the pressure on the teachers to perform for our kids or get out .
Me hardly eva went to extra lesson and me pass all me exam with flyin colours.
it’s called inherency,, like from ur DNA !…………
The core reason — which should have been addressed since 1992,, never too late — for this has become evident from the teachers who ,, should be performing at their college best ,, on the job during the hours ,, they are paid to perform ,, don’t rather they “play with flossie tail” til 3pm and den get serious ,, fuh gih extra lessen ! de ress wah gan home and kyan afford extra lessen ,, dem en get home wuk !….. so there now u have it … and all de ress ah y’all can give it a ress ,,,,,,,
It is very disheartening that folks bash the lesson syndrome.It is a known fact that the syllabi governing teaching in many instances cannot be covered in the time alloted in school.It should be stressed that affordability is not always the cause for concern SINCE MANY PARENTS HAVE NO PROBLEM GIVING THEIR CHILDREN THINGS THEY WANT & NOT WHAT THEY NEED LIKE CELL PHONES, LATEST OF ALMOST EVERY CONCEIVABLE ITEM.Also many parents are either too busy or lazy to see their role in education.The ministry of education too needs to ensure that the system be rid of teachers who waste time in school & wait for after school lessons to teach.As a teacher of this thankless profession for 12years in the secondary area(9in Guyana) i fully endorse extra lessons as a supplement for ensuring maximum results. IT IS REMARKABLE THAT NOT ONE COMMENT IS MENTIONED ABOUT THE HARD WORKING TEACHERS IN THE SYSTEM WHO REMAIN UNDERPAID & OVERWORKED.I can say without apology that my students over these years have benefitted from extra lesson as enforcement of prior or unavoidably new work
Mainstay you ought to go back to Guyana where you got your education and help the children.I bet you wont say you are overpaid for the job you are doing in the British Virgin Island.No matter how low salaries are for people in any country that does not give them the right to do wrong.These teachers are highly paid as compared to what they were paid prior to 1992.Would you not agree?