The Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) has issued a stark warning regarding new promotion criteria for senior public school teachers that prioritize academic qualifications over experience, potentially disqualifying a significant number of educators. The GTU is calling for an immediate reversal of the new point system.
At a press conference, Coretta McDonald, President of the GTU, explained that the Education Ministry’s new framework assigns just one point for every five years of teaching experience post-training, disadvantaging those with extensive career backgrounds. Currently, over 2,800 senior teacher vacancies exist.
McDonald highlighted that under the previous system, trained service was awarded two points per year. Thus, a teacher with 15 years of trained experience would have received 30 points. Under the new system, that same experience now equates to only three points—a tenfold decrease in recognition.
“This adjustment is not minor; it is a recalibration with severe implications for career advancement,” McDonald stated, emphasizing that educational experience represents an institutional capital built through classroom leadership, mentorship, and community engagement.
The new point allocation includes varying points for different qualifications: one point per five years of trained service, three points for every four years in the hinterland, eight points for completing the Education Management Programme, 14 points for a Bachelor’s Degree, 15 points for a Master’s Degree, and 18 points for a doctorate.
McDonald expressed concern that the Ministry of Education bypassed established protocols by submitting the new criteria to the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) without consulting the GTU. “They set the criteria and vacancy list without input from teachers’ representatives, and there has been no explanation for this,” she said.
The Union has been actively seeking dialogue with the Education Ministry on various issues since last year. While supporting academic upgrading, McDonald stressed that the promotion system must balance qualifications, experience, performance, and sustained contributions.
GTU’s First Vice President, Mariska Williams, reiterated the need for meaningful engagement with the teachers’ representative to ensure administrative legitimacy and public confidence. Williams called for immediate structured negotiations regarding the vacancy preparation process and the experience-point allocation to ensure fair access for all eligible teachers.
“Reducing five years of trained service to a single point sends the wrong message. Experience is critical to educational leadership. Diminishing its value jeopardizes the education system’s integrity,” she affirmed.
GTU Regional Vice President for Essequibo, Thakurdeen Durga, echoed these sentiments, stressing the necessity of the Ministry respecting the Union’s role. “The point system they formulated without consultation is dangerous,” he asserted, noting it could discourage experienced teachers.
In a show of solidarity, educators across the country donned black on Wednesday in support of those affected by the new promotion criteria. The GTU remains committed to advocating for equity and protecting the dignity of teaching professionals in Guyana.
