ECE landscape/sector in Guyana

Education in Guyana is largely provided by the Government of Guyana to all citizens free of
Cost. In Guyana, there are two early childhood education sectors. These sectors are the nursery
and primary sectors. According to Guyana- Education (2002) Non-Academic Education
Standard, the minimum age of children at the beginning of the cycle is 3 years and 6 months in
the nursery sector, and 5 years and 6 months by December 31 of the year in which first
enrollment is sought in the primary sector. There are many nursery and primary schools in
Guyana. All the early childhood schools have different numbers of children in a class. All
schools have a grade. This grade is determined by the number of children registered at the
school. Schools are graded from A–D in the nursery sector and A–E in the primary sector. A-
grade schools are schools with a high number of children, while E-grade schools contain a low
number of children. In early childhood classes, the class enrollment is between 15 to 25 children.

The Early Childhood lattice in Guyana

According to new research … (Guyana - Teaching Profession, n.d.) the Ministry of Education
provides regular training for teachers that supports their development, upskilling, and recognition
in multiple areas. Teachers in Guyana starts off their profession as a Temporary Qualify Teacher
(TQM) then trained at the Cyril Potter College of Education in order to be a qualified, trained
teacher, Assistant Mistress (AM). Teachers are given an Associate Degree in Education or
Teacher Training Certificate after completing CPCE. Teachers in Guyana also upgrade
themselves at the University of Guyana, which offers courses in education that lead to a diploma,
bachelor's degree, or a master's degree. The university works closely with the Cyril Potter
College, and both programs are supervised by the Ministry of Education. This upgrade allows
teachers to get better wage and a chance to be promoted as Senior Assistant Mistress (SAM) or
Deputy Head Teacher (DHM) or Head Teacher (HM). In addition, teachers are being trained
regularly on how to teach, plan lessons, and use the curriculum. Regular staff meetings are kept
in school to provide teachers with updated information and to discuss teacher and pupil welfare
issues, such as challenges faced on a daily basis and solutions to solve these challenges. Staff
meetings are also held once a term to allow teachers to help each other develop. There are also
cluster workshops that are held to bring schools together to discuss changes in the education
system.
Career opportunities/advancement within Guyana
The Government of Guyana is providing opportunities for quality, equitable education and
lifelong learning for all; this includes teachers and children. The early education educators are
given opportunities to further their education in the ECE field. The Government of Guyana is
sponsoring many teachers to attend universities in and out of Guyana through many programs,
such as GOAL. Teachers in Guyana are also given the opportunity to teach full-time in the US.
The children and teachers in the early childhood education sector are also given yearly uniform
allowances. Children are given meals on a regular basis through school feeding programs.

Implications for practitioners, gaps in the ECE sector and recommendations to close
perceived gaps
Teachers in the Early Childhood face several implications. One such implication is the shortage
of learning resources. Teachers suffer from a lack of appropriate learning materials in schools.
Learning materials are either lacking entirely, or not aligned with the curriculum. Teachers are
required to improvise using what was donated by parents or make their own materials. I will
recommend that the Ministry of Education in Guyana provide adequate materials for teachers to
use during lesson. One gap in Early Childhood Sectors is the lack of updated information about
the educational sector in Guyana especially in the early childhood sectors. I will recommend that
the Ministry of Education make updates on their website page so that the public can see and get
information when necessary. I think that the recommendations I made will close the at least two
gaps in the Education system.
References
Admin, M. W. (2022, August 16). A renewed curriculum for nursery is to be piloted in 103.
schools. https://education.gov.gy/en/index.php/media2/external-news/5070-renewed-
curriculum-for-nursery-to-be-piloted-in-103-schools

Chin, A. (2021c, March 10). The education system in Guyana.

https://education.gov.gy/en/index.php/about-us

GOAL. (n.d.). https://education.gov.gy/en/index.php/component/tags/tag/goal

Guyana - Teaching Profession. (n.d.). Teachers, Education, College, and Programs - State
University.com.
https://education.stateuniversity.com/pages/593/Guyana-TEACHING-
PROFESSION.html

Ministry of Education, Guyana (2002, May 10). Non-Academic Education Standards (n.d.)
Williams, C., Daniels, P., Joseph, C., & Henry, N. (n.d.) Guyana: Closing the. Learning
Gap for the Most Vulnerable Students Global Partnership for Education.
https://www.globalpartnership.org/results/stories-of-change/guyana-closing-learning-gap-
most-vulnerable-students