MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

CIRCULAR NO: 5/2024

REF. NO. ED: 8/15/1

FROM: Chief Education Officer

TO: Deputy Chief Education Officers

Directors, NCERD and School Boards Secretariat
Chief Planning Officer
Chief Schools Inspector
Assistant Chief Education Officers
Principal, CPCE
Senior Education Officers
Heads of Education Departments
District Education Officers,
Headteachers of Nursery, Primary & Secondary Schools, PICs and Technical
Institutes

DATE: 30th January 2024

SUBJECT: UNAUTHORISED ACCESS TO LEARNERS

The Ministry of Education (MoE) has received numerous complaints from concerned citizens, teachers,
and parents that persons and organisations are accessing school buildings/compounds and engaging
minor children. In many instances, students have been photographed and their photographs published as
advertisements and promotions without the relevant permission.

WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT, any person or organization who wishes to enter a school
building/compound to engage learners in any discussion and/or to conduct activities such as donations
or the distribution of gifts must first obtain written approval from the Central Ministry (respective
Assistant Chief Education Officers) through the respective Regional Department of Education.

Additionally, the MoE wishes to remind of the long-established protocols which must be observed when
a guest speaker is desired to address the students.
“In addition, where Heads may wish to invite a member of Cabinet, or other government functionary
such invitation must be forwarded early enough through the normal channel to the appropriate
Assistant Chief Education Officer, at the Centre and approval must be given...”
(Circular 1 of 1987; Memo by the DCEO Admin dated 14th November 2018)

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This is necessary to ensure the safety of minors and students while maintaining a secure, conducive
environment and preventing disruption to the established order and discipline within schools.

Any head teacher who fails to observe these protocols will be recommended to the Teaching Service
Commission (TSC) or School Boards Secretariat (SBS) for disciplinary action based on the Table of
Charges, Offences and Penalties, Schedule I (Education Act Chapter 39:01, Section 47).

Kindly ensure that you bring the contents of this circular to the attention of all members of staff, PTA,
School Board and that they affix their signatures and the date thereon. A COPY OF THIS CIRCULAR
HAS BEEN SENT TO EACH SCHOOL’S OFFICIAL EMAIL.

This is for your information and guidance.

Yours respectfully,

Saddam Hussain
Chief Education Officer

For information: Copied to:

1. Hon. Priya Manickchand, Minister of
Education
2. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of
Education
3. Secretary, Teaching Service Commission
4. General Secretary, Guyana Teachers’
Union
1. All members of the ESC
2. Regional Chairperson, Regions 1-10
3. Chairperson, Regional Education
Committee, Regions 1-10
4. Regional Executive Officers, Regions 1 –
10

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