Woolford Avenue Thomas Lands Affiliated to: Guyana Trades Union Congress

Longden Park, Georgetown, Guyana

P.O. Box 10996; E–mail: guyteachunion2017@yahoo.com Caribbean Union of Teachers and

Tel: (592) 226-3183; 227-0403; 227-3818; 226-3594; 225-6182. Fax: 227-3819 Education International

President : MARK LYTE Reg. Vice-Pres. Esseq.: CARMEL WILLIAMS General Secretary : CORETTA MCDONALD, A.A
1ST. Vice-Pres.: LESMEINE COLLINS Reg. Vice-Pres. Dem : COLLIS NICHOLSON Treasurer : SUMANTA ALLEYNE
2ND Vice-Pres.: JULIAN CAMBRIDGE Reg. Vice-Pres. B/ce: DONNETTE D’ANDRAD Dep. Gen. Secretary: JENIFFER NICHOLSON
Immediate Past President: COLIN BYNOE

June 5, 2020.

Press Release

A Special General Council Meeting was held Virtually by The Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU)
on June 5,2020. The main agenda item was the reopening of school for the purpose of preparing
pupils/students for NGSA, CSEC and CAPE in July.
Decisions taken were in keeping with the threat COVID19 poses for large gathering (more than
5persons) in one space. The school environment poses a threat to learners, teachers, other
school staff and families. It must be noted that the provisions outlined in the gazette order are
inadequate to say the least while not much consideration was given to the welfare of teachers
who would have to be in direct contact with learners in the school environment.
General Council believed that the recommendations made by GTU were not considered. The
union had recommended that school be opened in September for as third term while the new
academic year would have started in January 2020. This would have allowed NGSA to be
written in October 2020 and CSEC in September 2020.

Decisions taken were as follows:

1. The Timing of Examinations:
General Council strongly disagrees with the timing of the examinations (NGSA, CSEC and
CAPE) and therefore will not support its implementation in July 2020.

2. Reopening of School
General Council agreed that placing learners, teachers, and other school staff in an open
school environment void of the necessary medical clearance for anyone to operate in is a
serious threat to the citizenship of Guyana. The union therefore advises members to continue
engaging their charges virtually from the safety of their homes as you have been doing over
the last two months. Guyana has over seventy (70) active cases of COVID 19 and therefore
outdoors remain unsafe.

We have noted that countries which opened up their schools prematurely were forced to order
them closed again due to increased cases of the virus. Neighbouring Suriname is a typical case
to note. They have moved from zero case to over fifty (50) in less than a week after reopening.

Submitted:
Guyana Teachers’ Union