Berbice teachers continued to participate in the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) strike yesterday leaving parents in a state of concern as the National Grade Six Examinations are just months away.
According to information gathered, over 70% of teachers within the Canje area and 50% within the Corentyne continued to strike yesterday resulting in parents opting to keep their children away from school over safety concerns.
Several parents who have children in Grade Six expressed their concerns to Stabroek News as they called on the Ministry of Education and Guyana Teachers Union to deal with the matter swiftly as they believe that their children are being affected.
One parent explained that her daughter is currently out of school since she decided that that was the best option. “I send her Monday and they did nothing and so I just keep her home. I will do the same thing tomorrow and hopefully by Monday they can go back to school.”
According to the woman, who is from the Canje Area her daughter who is in Grade Six was supposed to be revising and going through the mock examinations brushing up on matters she found difficult in those exams.
The concerned parent said, “Honestly I see it from both sides, the ministry working but the teachers deserve a good pay because they work with our children. All I can say is that I hope they can fix this issue and the children can get back to school because (Grade Six) exam will come around just now and what will happen then?”
Another parent from the Corentyne also expressed their concern noting that “it has been four days and its going on to the entire week and a lot of work has been delayed especially now that grade six exams are just a few months away and teachers decided to strike.”
She continued, “I am concerned because as parents how are we sure they (students) will be caught up with the work when they return out back to school.”
“I hope this can be resolved very soon and the kids can get back to school in the new week because I can’t imagine for students who may not be doing so well in school and how dependent they are on teachers and might need the extra effort from teachers for the exams.”
Meanwhile, teachers have been actively protesting in the region. Earlier in the week they protested in front of the Region Six Educational Department in New Amsterdam while yesterday they protested at the head of Arch Road, Rose Hall Town, Corentyne.
The teachers who were out at Rose Hall Town, Corentyne were adamant that the strike would continue next week if their demands were not likely to be met.
The GTU has said that the strike will last at least two weeks.
