By Stabroek News
Dear Editor,
There were several recent exchanges (benefits or advantages and disadvantages) on whether Guyanese teachers should accept teaching positions in America. The benefits far outweigh sacrifices or concerns West Indian teachers experienced in the classroom in New York; there may be few exceptions. The pay is between five to ten times that in the Caribbean. And the other perks and benefits dwarfs those in Guyana. The challenge Guyanese teachers may face is licensing as a teacher. Will it be waived? Or will they be given time to become licensed as happened previously? Only licensed teachers are allowed as regular educators in the classroom and to move up in the annual pay scale.
Besides licensing, teachers were required to have a minimum MA degree. Some educators pursued two Masters which earned teachers an extra $3000 on top of the standard salary. Teachers also earn extra for filling in for absentee teachers — one or two periods a day for approximately $42 a period. And if hired outside of the work hours for tutoring or other activities, one is paid by the hour of approximately $50 an hour. Teachers are offered incentives for accepting a job. Teachers are observed by the Principal or Assistant Principal in the classroom at least three times a term and are rated on a scale. If a teacher was rated unsatisfactory two consecutive years, he or she is brought up on charges of incompetence before a review board that can terminate the license as well as employment.
In some schools, teachers were or are harassed. But if they are good teachers demonstrating competence and interest in the students, they are hardly harassed and pushed out of the job. Aside from salary, the benefits are enormous — full medical and dental coverage, vacations including for the Christmas, Easter, Winter, and Summer breaks. There are just about 180 school days within the school year starting the first Tuesday in September and ending the last Thursday in June. In between are several days off marking festivals and commemoration. Educators also get one sick day a month that can be accrued and aggregated and used anytime. If unused, educators get paid for half the days at about $600 a day at time of retirement. It is a bounty for those who didn’t use all their sick days.
There is also pension benefits. An educator gets 2% in pension benefits for each year taught. If one teaches 30 years, one gets 60% of average of maximum salary after retirement. And more pension if one works additional years. One is also entitled to federal social security that could work out to $3000 monthly if one puts in 30 years. And while on the job, teachers can set aside a portion of their salary of up to 23% into a retirement fund that earns at least 7%. There are two retirement funds to which one can make contributions for future use. That portion is reduced from the annual income resulting in lower tax rate and higher savings for future use.
So the benefits are plenty in serving as an educator in New York. Benefits are similar in other counties and states though salary may be lower in North Carolina and a few other states. It is to Guyana’s loss if local teachers are attracted to better pay packages and conditions elsewhere. Government must increase salary and offer other incentives to retain teachers.
Vishnu Bisram