EDUCATION Minister, Priya Manickchand yesterday announced that starting from next week, she will be having weekly Wednesday meetings with teachers from across the country. The minister made this disclosure while addressing the Ministry of Education’s final consultation on corporal punishment, grade repetition, automatic promotion and retention at the North Ruimveldt Multilateral School.

Addressing some very concerned teachers from around Georgetown, Priya Manickchand assured that from the views expressed and the recommendations given by teachers present yesterday, necessary steps will be taken to eliminate challenges affecting the school education system.

Manickchand, in an invited comment with the state media, said that the  ministry intends to compile a suggestion and recommendation report after which strategies will be implemented and decisions will be made.
“We have had this corporal punishment and automatic promotion consultation in every region, with more than one stakeholder in every region …we met with teachers and parents within these regions, we have met with students and we have wrapped up today at North Ruimveldt,” Manickchand said.
She added that she is pleased with what came out of the meeting, noting that she will ensure that the school education system is strengthened with help and expertise needed to sort out issues facing teachers and students.
“In fact we are very pleased with the response we have gotten and we intend to make sure we avail ourselves of all the expertise we have heard on the floor,” Manickchand stated.
The minister said that decisions will be made on the topics discussed at the consultations.
“I don’t know whether they will be taken to the National Assembly for a decision, but you do know that corporal punishment was laid in the National Assembly as an issue to discuss and we believe that this report is going to find its way into that special collection,” Manickchand said.
Georgetown Consultation
Yesterday’s consultation was spearheaded by Deputy Education Officer, Melcita Bovell, who explained that the education policy makers had decided that the system would be tried for two years, before seeking the feedback.
She urged that teachers give their honest opinions and responses to the topics being addressed, and in a respectful manner.
Teachers who attended the consultation yesterday agreed that is a wrong move to remove corporal punishment and grade repetition from the school system.
They all were in agreement when several colleague teachers spoke out against automatic promotion.
All of these teachers said that learning is a process and a child should repeat a class if he or she is to be good at their school work and come out on top.
Teachers expressed concern that students in today’s education system are bold and would tell teachers up front that regardless of if they pass their examinations or not, they should be promoted.
This, according to teachers, just continues to wipe out the values of studying and working towards succeeding in school.
In the case of corporal punishment, they believe that this should not be eliminated from schools, since it serves as a good disciplinary measure.
Throughout the various consultations that were held countrywide Manickchand urged teachers to be frank and open in their concerns.
“Nothing is wrong if you have different views. It all depends on what you believe, and nothing you say will offend us. We want your original views,” she stressed.
The minister also registered her view that teachers ought to be celebrated for their hard work and dedication.
On the issue of corporal punishment, the minister said it remains her personal view that no child should be flogged in school.
 However, the oath she took when sworn in as minister mandates her to serve in the interest of the people of Guyana, and thus the consultations are geared at hearing from those she serves.

Among alternative methods to corporal punishment the minister suggested is making a child do several things, such as facing the wall, not talking, sitting quietly on a chair, and writing words repeatedly.

Manickchand told the gathering that the alternatives to corporal punishment are many, and these should be explored. She said that hitting children is dangerous and could be considered unhealthy.