FOUR students on Wednesday were awarded scholarship bursaries by Gafoor’s Foundation to pursue studies at Government Technical Institute (GTI) for the academic year 2016/2017
The presentation was made in the GTI’s board room and witnessed by Assistant Chief Education Officer (Technical), Patrick Chinedu Onwugmia; Chairman of the BTI Board of Governors, Vincent Alexander; Executive Chairman of Gafson’s, Sattaur Gafoor; other board members of the Gafoor Foundation; GTI Principal, Renita Crandon Duncan and GTI Welfare Officer, Alero Proctor.
The students receiving bursary awards were Rondell/Dazzell, pursuing studies in Electrical Installation; Leon Lewis — Building and Civil Engineering; Natasha Hunter – Building and Civil Engineering and Alexandria Clarke – Small Appliance and Repairs.
Ameena Gafoor, on behalf of the Gafoor Foundation, expressed pleasure at being able to extend a helping hand to the recipients of the scholarships. She said the Foundation was happy to partner with GTI and the students, recognising that not every child who goes through the school system would be a doctor, a lawyer or an accountant.
She stressed the importance of persons with industrial skills in pushing the country forward and expressed the hope that the recipients will apply themselves zealously and perform creditably, so that other students will be inspired to ‘go for it’ as well.
“Without industrial skills, we cannot push the country. Hence, I would like to see more students of GTI on board,” Gafoor said, adding that the programme will run for a while, and once it works out, will be continued.
Acute shortage of technical skills
Executive Chairman of Gafsons’s Industries Sattaur Gafoor, who also spoke, noted that there is a shortage of persons with technical skills in Guyana.
“Anyone in the field of construction will agree with me that there is a dearth of skills in our country, especially in the fields of welding and air-conditioning.”
He observed that more and more, home owners are looking for air -conditioned units, adding that there is need for artisans such as welders and persons with air-condition repair skills. Against this backdrop, he pointed to an acute shortage of electricians in the country, so that the more people being trained to acquire these skills, the better it would be for the people in construction.
Such considerations, more than anything else, inspired the foundation to join with the GTI in promoting the development of skills in these areas, the Gafson’s Executive Chairman said.
The Chairman said they would like to see more participants coming on board to enjoy the benefits of the Gafoor scholarship scheme, conceding that the net result would be that there would be more skills out there to aid national development
BRAIN DRAIN
The Chairman bemoaned the practice whereby some acquire skills locally then migrate overseas. To this end, he admonished: “Let’s remember that we owe our country something. We have been trained and educated in our country, therefore let’s give back something to our country.”
He implored the students taking up the scholarships to do their best, adding that the foundation would like to see more people come on board and ultimately contributing to the development of this nation in key areas.
Meanwhile, GTI Board of Governors Chairman Vincent Alexander, on behalf of the institute, extended appreciation to the Gafoor Foundation for the noble gesture.
This, he said, must be in recognition of the role that GTI is playing or can play in doing what GTI ought to do – that is to deliver good education and produce the kind of human resource that can benefit the country.
Classifying the initiative as a collaboration between the Gafoor Foundation and GTI, he was optimistic about its impact on human resource development and national development. Alexander also expressed appreciation for the gesture, in terms of corporate responsibility and collectively taking the country forward.
“And so we [GTI] are appreciative and would like to see the students demonstrate that appreciation in terms of performance in their respective courses, and to think about it as a contribution to Guyana,” Alexander affirmed.
He further urged the students to see their scholarship as an opportunity that many other students would not have, and to make good of it.
Meanwhile, Principal Renita Crandon Duncan, on behalf of the Board of Governors, management and staff and students of the GTI, expressed gratitude to the Gafoor Foundation for the benevolent initiative and for joining hands in giving back to education and playing a part in molding the nation.
She added that the students are extremely grateful as well, knowing it will benefit them. Student Natasha Hunter also expressed gratitude on behalf of the scholarship awardees.
The scholarship covers education materials, training materials not provided by the institute, meals, transportation, among other things – especially those who live in regions outside of Region Four and have to travel daily to attend classes.