‘LAST MINUTE SHOPPING FRENZY’: The busy Regent Street shopping zone was a hive of activity yesterday as persons went about the usual ‘Guyanese style’ last-minute back-to-school shopping. (Composite photo by Cullen Bess Nelson)

MINISTER within the Ministry of Education, Dr Desrey Fox, yesterday assured that everything is in place for today’s reopening of schools in Georgetown after the holidays.

She told the Guyana Chronicle that, with the exception of Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica) from where she was yet to receive an updated status report, the other regions have already indicated their readiness.

Fox reported that, during the vacation, rehabilitation works were being done on 45 city schools, all of which will reopen their doors for the first day of the Christmas term.

She said repairs are currently underway on the roof of President’s College and, from all indication, classes there will resume next Monday.

Fox said Hope Secondary School, also on the East Coast Demerara, is still under construction and will not open today but on a date to be announced.

Some minor works, such as the fixing of windows and painting of walls were unfinished at a few schools in the capital but the Minister said those would be completed in time for today’s opening.

She said she is heartened by the preparations headteachers and their staffs made, after she paid inspection visits last week, when many teachers were busy either preparing their notes or putting their classrooms in order.

Fox disclosed that placements and transfers of students who sat the National Grade Six Assessment examinations (NGSA) as well as others are under control.

INCREASE
A total of 18,613 candidates sat the tests this year, an increase of about 1,000 over the 2008 number.

Fox said, unlike in previous years when crowds of parents flocked the Ministry’s Lot 68 Brickdam office, the situation has improved significantly.

She said if parents venture there today, it will be primarily because of last minute transfers.

Fox acknowledged that furniture shortage is usually a problem on the opening day but said this has been remedied through an ongoing Ministry project being executed by the Government Technical Institute (GTI).

This term, 40 community high schools will be converted to secondary schools with sixth forms.

Form ones will be used for remedial classes, to carry low performers up to the secondary school requirement.

Notably, today coincides with the start of Education Month for which is themed ‘School attendance and punctuality: keys to education success’.

Education Minister Shaik Baksh will officially declare the activities started with a message to stakeholders at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), Battery Road, Kingston.

International Literacy Day will be observed on September 8 under the theme ‘The power of literacy’ and possibly feature a one week programme in the various education districts.

On September 11, there will be a GUYAID presentation at NCERD and another on September 16, for the award of attendance certificates in the Georgetown District at North Ruimveldt Primary.

WALK
September 18 will see an awareness walk, starting at North Ruimveldt Secondary, to encourage children and teachers to attend schools regularly and punctually.

The Festival of Choirs from primary schools will be held at the National Culture Centre (NCC) on September 24, followed by the performance of the secondary schools choir the next day.

The J.O.F Haynes Debating Competition begins on September 29 with Region Four facing off with Georgetown at Diamond Secondary School, East Bank Demerara.

That will be followed by a health fair on September 30 at the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) ground on Thomas Road, in Georgetown, too.

Acting Chief Education Officer, Mrs. Geneveive White-Nedd and Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) President, Mr. Colwyn King will each deliver a message on Teachers’ Day, October 5, at NCERD.

Activities for the month will culminate with the National Awards Ceremony at the NCC on October 7.

Throughout the month, Ministers Baksh and Fox will participate in face-the-community meetings in the various regions.

In addition, there will be panel discussions on the Education Month theme broadcast via radio and television.