Government has approved a five percent increase in wages for teachers and members of the Disciplined Services for the New Year.
This is in addition to the nine percent that was granted for this year and in the case of the teachers, is being paid pursuant to the multi-year agreement concluded by Government and the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) in 2006, the Government Information Agency (GINA) said in a press release.
Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh has instructed that all actions be taken to ensure that this increase is incorporated into the January salaries of the eligible employees, GINA stated.
In October 2006 a five-year agreement was signed between the GTU and the Government. Included in the package were performance incentives, loan schemes, clothing allow-ances, duty-free concessions for 100 head teachers a year and clothing allowances among other benefits.
The release said that Government continues to allocate and expend much needed resources in the education sector with education expenditure this year budgeted at $15.6 billion for which $7.6 billion was spent in the first half of the year as compared to $6.6 billion in 2006 for the corresponding period.
“In keeping with Government’s commitment to reduce poverty and equip all Guyanese with the necessary skills and expertise to aid in development, the announcement of the final draft of the Education Act is expected shortly”, the release said.
