Consumer Concerns

Eileen Cox

Teachers who did not attend the opening day of school for this new school year on September 1, 2009 and did not on the same day submit an excuse for non-attendance were informed at the school that their names would not be on the paylist for September, 2009. In October, they learnt that their names would not appear on the list until November.

Why do teachers absent themselves from schools on the opening day? The reason given is that there’s chaos on the first day of the school term as furniture is not arranged; they see litter lying around in the classroom; lawns are not cut and if there are any repairs being done to the school building they are not completed.
The whole appearance is one of untidiness and shows a lack of preparation for a good start to the school term.

For a school term to begin in an acceptable manner, one would expect that furniture would be properly arranged and the whole scenario would be conducive to learning. It is a question of discipline, illustrating to students the need for a “well ordered” life. It should impress on them that the conditions under which they will have to work are the best.
It is explained that years ago, inspectors from the Ministry of Education supervised arrangements for the opening day. This no longer happens.

The question of delaying the payment of September and October salaries until November for non-attendance on the opening day was not understood. A telephone call to the Ministry of Education revealed that a senior officer knew nothing about the “punishment”.

This question of punishment by withholding salaries needs clarification. The salaries of government employees on the lower echelons are not adequate to cover day-to-day living expenses. When salaries are withheld, these employees are placed in a most embarrassing position unable to pay rent, and to buy food; unable to pay utility bills and transportation for themselves and children to school.

Some teachers are compelled to borrow money, sometimes at a high rate of interest, thus making their financial position worse than before. In the case of teachers who have to show a serene face to their students, the withholding of salaries is an unacceptable punishment and is probably illegal.
“Some teachers’ houses in a dreadful state” – this is the headline of a letter which appeared in the Stabroek News on October 28, 2009. The letter should be read by every consumer who recognizes the importance of teachers in building a society. It reports that some teachers in the interior are not provided with habitable houses.

There is also a need to ensure that all teachers in public and private schools are fully competent in the English Language. One can no longer rely on the certificate and diplomas received from learning institutions. Even certificates from the University of Guyana do not indicate a person’s real knowledge of English. There are some persons who will tell you “Consumers reminds them…,“ explain that the word consumer is plural and therefore the verb has to carry an s.