World Teachers’ Day: Guyana Must Invest in Teachers, Not Just Education

As Guyana observes World Teachers’ Day, the country should move beyond the annual tributes to teachers and confront a more fundamental question: what kind of teaching profession is Guyana building, and what conditions are being created for teachers to educate effectively?

There has been significant investment in education over the years, including teacher training, infrastructure, technology and salary adjustments. The Government has also highlighted progress in expanding the number of trained teachers, particularly in hinterland communities. But persistent concerns over learning outcomes, teacher shortages, classroom conditions, professional development and industrial relations suggest that investment alone is not enough.

A World Bank assessment found that more than half of Guyanese students were not achieving 50 per cent in core subjects, while classroom-observation research found that only 7 per cent of teachers initially met the assessed standard for instructional practices. Subsequent programmes improved that figure to 22 per cent, showing that professional development can make a difference—but also how much work remains.