The Guyana Teachers’ Union is calling on the Ministry of Education and Guyana Police Force to protect teachers following an incident on a school compound.

It is reported there was an altercation at the Houston Secondary School involving a parent and student last Thursday.

A teacher attached to the school was seen in a video with a cutlass in her hand which has since gone viral.

A report was made to the Ruimveldt Police Station. Attorney Darren Wade secured the teacher’s release.

Upon leaving police custody, the teacher told local media that ‘this thing has become the new COVID’ and as an educator she would like to see a better relationship between teachers, parents and students so teachers can work on what they are being paid to do, which is to educate the charges in their care.

The female teacher maintained she was attacked.

The Union in a Facebook post said: “It’s a total shame to see that a female teacher has to go to an extreme to defend herself at her place of work. The same place where teachers are expected to educate and keep learners safe, they themselves are unsafe.”

Meanwhile, Education Minister Priya Manickchand stated this on her Facebook page: “In every altercation between a teacher and parent/s, a child will be affected. Remember that. And dial down all the talks of violence and hostility.”