Hinds, Baksh in joint exhortation to outstanding students
THE Ministry of Education hosted its 14th annual National Awards Ceremony in the National Cultural Centre (NCC) yesterday to honour students whose academic performance was outstanding.
Speaking on the occasion, Education Minister Shaik Baksh appealed to those honoured to remain and help develop Guyana.
“As our country is developing and is prepared to take off in the years ahead, as we enter the digital age and as we create the knowledge economy, we need all the skills to develop this great country of ours,” he told them.

Among those recognised for their excellence were the top National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) candidate, Sonia Ghir; the best performer at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), Eileen Marray; in the Junior Secondary School category at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination, Yeeshana Ganpat and in the Senior Secondary School group, Kelly Ann Persaud.

Persaud also gained recognition as the CSEC best performer, who, despite skipping two classes, proved her competence by securing 15 grade one passes at age 15 years.

Her successes were in Agricultural Science, Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Electronic Document Preparation and Management, English Language, English Literature, French, Geography, Human and Social Biology, Information Technology, Mathematics, Physics, Social Studies and Spanish.

The Carnegie School of Home Economics candidates who excelled were recognised, as well those from the Government Technical Institute (GTI) and New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI) for their showing at the Government Technical Education Examination (GTEE).

The best graduating student from Cyril Potter College of Education, Hamant France, who attended the Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara In-Service Centre was another honoree and awards were given to the most improved primary school, West Ruimveldt; the most improved Junior Secondary School, Tucville and the most improved Senior Secondary School, President’s College (PC).
Baksh acknowledged that the achievements are a source of pride for all stakeholders and said his ministry is advancing its efforts on the bases defined by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) – learning to know; centred on content in education delivery; learning to do; the application of knowledge; learning to together, a concept being advanced through the Health and Family Life Education (HFLE) programme and learning to be, the realisation of an individual’s full potential.

FUTURE  ENDEAVOURS
The Minister informed the gathering that his ministry is making significant strides to continue the advancement of the sector in this country and future endeavours planned  include:
* a sixth form college in the new year, which is expected to provide a more focused form of education for students locally;
* continued partnership with the University of Guyana (UG) to improve the quality of education there, more particularly to work on that institution’s strategic plan and address problems such as absence of lecturers and external examinations systems, among others;
* the introduction of a dedicated public education television channel early in 2011, to focus on e-learning programmes and boost distance education. A multimedia centre has been established at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) and it is currently being staffed to ensure that the content for the learning channel is developed and
* the full integration of Information Communication Technology (ICT), which will see in all secondary school students, in another three years, sitting IT exams at the CSEC level. The infrastructure is being developed and, by 2011, all secondary schools are expected to be equipped with computer laboratories. It is also anticipated that this would enable Guyanese students to compete both regionally and globally in a 21st century technology age.
Baksh insisted that students must be able to develop to their full potential and be supported in doing so or the system would have failed.
But he maintained that the interventions to improve education delivery are working.
As he put it:“The education system is reforming itself.”
Baksh said the proof is in the Secondary Competency Certificate Programme (SCCP), which, in the last year, has been effective in reducing the secondary school dropout rate from 12 per cent to six per cent; literacy and numeracy programmes, the impacts of which were seen in this year’s CSEC results and the reforming of teacher education.

GREATER SUCCESSES
He said, come 2011, greater successes are expected from students as a result of the numerous interventions being made.
Additionally, a process that has already started is the redesigning of the education curriculum to redefine education for the 21st Century, Baksh disclosed.
According to him, the attainment of universal primary education has been achieved and the same is the aim in secondary education, the only challenge being the need to improve quality at the 182 primary top schools.
He added that this is being addressed with emphasis being put on getting the necessary infrastructure in place.
Baksh said, too, that one of the primary objectives of the Ministry is equal access to education where no child should be left out.
“We are making strides with equity in Guyana,” he contended, pointing out that, at the recent CSEC examinations, the pass rate in Region Nine (Upper Takutu/ Upper Essequibo), the third top performing education district, was 70 per cent in grades one to three.
However, in addition to the provision of access to education, Baksh said all parents need to be committed to their children’s education.
“You have your part to play, you have your role to play,” he emphasised.
Baksh said parents cannot leave the education of their children to the schools alone and he assured that  his ministry will provide the requisite resources and child friendly classrooms, in the interest of raising the quality of education countrywide.
He admitted, though, that the greatest challenge is quality in the delivery of programmes to improve learning.

MEANINGFUL  CONTRIBUTIONS
Baksh said the purpose of the education system is to produce students who will make meaningful contributions to the nation, assist in its socio-economic development with skills to be a part of the human resources needed for developing a country economically, all the while realising their true potential.
He said the system also serves to impart values of tolerance, integrity, persistence, determination and an appreciation of the diversity which constitutes this country.
“The vision is clear where we want to go. That vision is to promote tolerance, modernise Guyana and eliminate illiteracy. Our programmes are directed at doing just that,” Baksh said.
He pledged that the current Administration will continue to make investments across the Administrative Regions.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, who also spoke at the function, said the fruits of the investments, successful young individuals, give the country hope.
“We look up to you. We have great hopes for you. We expect you to be models and assist others to be as good as yourselves,” he encouraged the students.
Mr. Hinds said the students, who have demonstrated that they are the best, should share their skills with others, in recognition of the fact that one is only as good as one’s competition.
He urged, not only the high flyers, but the student population, generally, to carry the obligations of a greater Guyana on their shoulders.
“This is the challenge to you, to stay on in Guyana and make a contribution to your country,” was his exhortation.