Children at city schools hit by the teachers’ strike, are preparing for the Secondary Schools Entrance Examina-tions (SSEE) by writing mock tests and doing revision in preparation for the exams to be held on April 16 and April 17.
Reports out of Linden are that the SSEE teachers are working with their charges but at public places, such as churches or private residences.
Primary schools in Linden remain closed and many teachers continue to stay away from school to back the Guyana Teachers’ Union’s call for them to strike for a 15% across-the-board increase in salaries. There had been much concern about the SSEE classes, as well as other examinations, in the city schools, in Linden and other parts of the country because of the strike.
But it appears classes for SSEE children have continued uninterrupted in many parts of the country. Early in the strike some teachers in some city schools, other parts of Region Four and Region Ten had also withdrawn their services.
During a visit to ten schools in the city yesterday, Stabroek News saw teachers at the head of classes with children either writing mock examinations, doing revision or working on old test papers. With the exception of the Rama Krishna Primary School where the majority of the school’s teachers were present and there were children from other classes in attendance, the other nine schools catered strictly for the SSEE students.
The majority of the teachers, Stabroek News learnt, did not go on strike at Rama Krishna so the SSEE classes had not been affected.
The other primaries visited were FE Pollard, Stella Maris, North Georgetown, Sacred Heart, St Agnes, St Angela’s, St Margaret’s, West Ruim-veldt and South Ruimveldt.
At some schools where the SSEE teachers had abandoned their charges the head teachers, deputy teachers and other teachers had filled the breach. This was evident at South Ruimveldt and FE Pollard. From their faces, the children were still enthusiastic about being there and according to one, “we’re the only children at school.”
Teachers and head teachers at some schools told Stabroek News that even though they were supporting the strike, their presence at school and their work with the children were not in response to any official call but it was due to their own conscience.
A teacher at one of the city’s leading primary schools said that “we brought these children up as babies and we’ve brought them to a point where we just can’t leave them alone. How would they feel knowing that we’re not there when they are on the last lap? How would we feel when they do not give of their best when it’s crucial for them?”
Another teacher said the satisfaction she got was knowing that her charges did well at exams. She said she supported the strike as she was not dressed in her usual working clothes nor were her pupils in school uniform. With the exception of three schools, children were wearing casual clothing.
Reports out of Bartica, Lethem and Mabaruma are that classes are being held with the SSEE children.
In New Amsterdam, reports were that not all primary schools were holding classes with the SSEE children but children were attending lessons given by teachers in the afternoons.