Teachers at some schools in Guyana will soon be required to clock their attendance using a biometric system, with Education Minister Sonia Parag stressing that the initiative is not punitive but is aimed at ensuring students receive consistent instruction.
The move follows a school visit Parag made early in the academic term, where 12 teachers were absent, with only three on approved leave.
“It was the second week of term, and children needed to be taught. There was no proper account for where the other teachers were,” she said, adding that effective schools depend on teachers being present in classrooms.
The biometric system, which is being piloted in several schools ahead of a full national rollout, will record when teachers arrive and leave, providing the Ministry of Education with real-time attendance data. Parag made the disclosure during Insider, the News Room’s Sunday evening interview programme.
She said the issue ultimately comes down to teachers showing compassion and empathy, noting that educators often become guardians who help mould and nurture a child’s future.
Against that backdrop, Parag appealed to educators to demonstrate greater accountability and compassion as the government steps up efforts to improve classroom teaching.
“All I’m asking teachers to do is be present in your classroom and to deliver the curriculum,” Parag said. “If we are investing in the education sector and investing in our children, they must be able to benefit from that system.”
The biometric system will indicate the number of hours teachers are present at school, but Parag said further explanations would still be required in cases of absence.
“The biometrics will only tell us when you came in and when you left,” she said. “From that, we still have to understand why you were not there.”
Parag acknowledged unease among some educators but reiterated that the initiative should not be viewed as punishment.
She said the ministry has also begun strengthening engagement with Parent Teachers Associations (PTAs), which she described as critical to resolving issues collaboratively.
“We need better collaboration between the ministry, parents, teachers and the teachers’ union,” Parag said. “Some of the PTAs will engage the unions directly, and over time we expect continuous engagement with the unions as well.”
Parag said teachers play a central role in shaping children’s lives beyond academic instruction, calling on educators to approach their work with empathy.
“When I commissioned two nursery schools recently, it struck me that this is the first learning environment a child experiences,” she said. “That teacher makes the first impression — and that doesn’t come only with academics. It comes with compassion, empathy and how you treat a child.”
She said her own schooling left a lasting impression.
“I don’t forget my teachers. They were more than teachers — they were guardians,” Parag said.
Parag added that the government intends to recognise teachers’ contributions over time, including through improved remuneration.
“In due course, we will honour teachers, including with salary increases,” she said. “It is going to get better, and I want them to know that they play an important role in society.”
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