The Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) has planned countrywide strike action if Minister of Education,Adam Shaheen Jersey, Shaik Baksh, does not reinstate a teacher at the Berbice High School, New Amsterdam.At a press conference yesterday at the GTU headquarters, Woolford Avenue, President of the union, Colwyn King said that all teachers have been told to be on the alert and to await instructions from the GTU for industrial action as early as today, if Minister Baksh does not rethink his decision.King said that Mashramani floats involving teachers and school children will even be cancelled if the Minister does not take decisive action.He added that GTU tried several times to make contact with Minister Baksh but efforts proved futile, as they were told that the Minister was in a Cabinet meeting.Approximately two weeks ago,Nike Air Max Zero White, a teacher at the Berbice High School was suspended after she flogged a number of students for not submitting their assignments on time.A report was made to the education office and the teacher who had given some 18 years of service to the school was suspended while an investigation was conducted.The investigating team, which included persons from the GTU, the regional education officer and welfare officers, found that the teacher acted with good intent although what she did was wrong.As such, the Chief Education Officer (CEO) yesterday reinstated the teacher at the school. However,Cheap NHL Jerseys, this was met with much disapproval from Minister Baksh, who called the CEO and told him that the teacher should not be reinstated and that the matter should be taken to the Teaching Service Commission (TSC).The GTU president is of the view that the Minister does not have the authority to instruct the CEO on what action should be taken with the teacher, since the investigation did not incriminate her in any way.“The Minister deals with political issues and the CEO deals with professional issues…the Minister now has gone and said that the teacher must stay home and that the matter must be investigated by TSC,” King said.According to King, the teacher could have failed the students if she wanted to, but she did not do so.“I don’t understand what the Minister is doing and saying. I don’t understand why our schools have become a political background…and the Minister can play political football to gain mileage…the GTU cannot sit idly by and allow the Minister to be pussyfooting around.”King added that when the matter was brought up the parents of the students had noted that they were forced by the Ministry to get a medical report for the students because they wanted to set the teacher as an example.The president noted that the teacher teaches four examination subjects, and that she is dedicated and hard-working.When the issue was first reported,Cheap NHL Jerseys, the teachers of the school were pushing for industrial action,Nike Air Max 1 Womens Sale, but the GTU managed to quell it at that time as they urged for the teachers to work together to resolve the issue.King is of the view that Minister Baksh does not want to cooperate with the GTU,Cheap NHL Jerseys, as he is taking a different lead on many issues.(Fareeza Haniff)