Education CEO sent packing
Minister Henry and CEO Hutson in happier times
Chief Education Officer Marcel Hutson was today sent on leave reportedly by Education Minister Nicolette Henry. Today efforts Hutson were futile.
Big Smith News Watch was told that in the lead up to Hutson being sent on leave, he was reportedly being side lined from attending major meetings within the Ministry and sector.
It is also being reported that Hutson who has several months of accumulated leave had previously attempted to proceed on his leave but was asked to remain on the job as the Ministry of Education needed his assistance with the formulation of a number of policy decisions within the education sector.
Contacted this afternoon, Minister of Education Nicolette Henry said that Hutson is approaching the statutory age of retirement and will be off the job officially in 2020 having reached the age. The minister added that there is a succession plan in place at the ministry which will be kicked in as the ministry is expected to ensure that officers are considered based on their seniority and experience in order to take over from Hutson.
Hutson who was sent on leave today was informed that he should remain on leave until all accumulated leave is exhausted. It was also stated that Hutson’s leave is expected to lead him into retirement.
Marcel Hutson who also serves as a pastor at the First Assembly of God Church has been in the employ of the Ministry of Education where he served in several capacities including Principle Education Officer primary and later secondary before making his way up the chain to the most senior position within the ministry at the public service level.
The Education Ministry has not enjoyed a lot of good press recently particularly with two separate incidents, one having to do with a parent of who reportedly went into a school compound and assaulted a teacher and the other were a young man was seen punching away at a female student.
The latter incident forced the Minister of Education to visit the school where she spoke with the children but received some backlash for one aspect of her visit where she reportedly stated that fights are normal in schools.
On Tuesday, social media again turned its attention to the Ministry of Education after it became public knowledge that the Ministry has suspended the traditional Schools Christmas Parties and instead recommended that luncheons be held instead.
The Ministry’s reason for moving in this direction reportedly had to do with what it termed the moving away from the spirit of the season at the various Schools Christmas parties. The suspension of the parties have been restricted to Georgetown School, at least for now.
Efforts to secure a comment from the Guyana Public Service Union were futile as BIG Smith News Watch was told that the senior officers were locked in meetings.
