Guyana Marks World Teachers’ Day Amid Calls to Improve Teachers’ Welfare

President Irfaan Ali said AI is changing education in Guyana and must be matched by new ways to assess students, since teachers now have to tell whether work reflects a child’s own understanding or was largely produced by technology. He said AI can support learning, but cannot replace teachers, and pledged more training, resources and improved pay for educators.

This opinion piece argues that Guyana’s investment in education has not gone far enough unless teachers also get better working conditions, stronger professional support and respect for their union rights. It points to weak student outcomes, staffing and classroom challenges, and recent clashes over collective bargaining and union dues as proof that supporting teachers is central to improving education.

This opinion column says some Guyanese teachers have turned Teacher Appreciation Day into a full week of food and gifts, leaving parents feeling the cost is getting out of hand. It argues that real appreciation should come from students doing well and becoming decent adults, not from expensive celebrations and constant collections.