-can make Guyana a hub for people who want to study nature

PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar has disclosed that presently at the University of Guyana (UG) the Government is building a world class centre for biodiversity.“ After all our country is rich in biodiversity and therefore we can make Guyana a hub for people studying from abroad who want to study nature,” the President noted.
He also expounded upon concentrating more and more on science and technology, and improving the facilities at the University of Guyana.
The President also reiterated Government’s commitment to work hard towards achieving a higher standard of education across the country for all Guyanese.
He made this disclosure at Ministry of Education annual Education Month Rally on Friday at the National Park under the theme: “Literate by Grade 4 through consistent home, school and community involvement.”
President Ramotar also urged the students to take full advantage of the education being offered to them as the world demands a strongly educated population. “Two decades ago, we used to spend only 8% on the social sector of our country; today that value is almost 30%,” he said explaining that the most important factor is the people and not just natural resources, and the Government is fully aware of this, hence its massive spending on the social sector. With the largest amount being spent on education, the second on health, the Government, the President said, is aware that all of these sectors are intertwined, illustrating a holistic approach to development of all Guyanese.
Mr. Ramotar urged the students to study hard especially those within the secondary school sector, noting that “in order to earn tomorrow, you have to learn today.”
The President spoke directly to the secondary school students explaining to them that “you are at a very important juncture in your life you are just on the eve of entering into adulthood; just on the eve of entering into our work force and you need to be ready and prepared to make a contribution to national development.”
The Education Ministry, the President said has had tremendous improvements such as the building of nursery schools in almost every community, the achievement of universal primary education and the push to achieve the same at the secondary level. He also noted that this year the Ministry has received the largest enrollment at the nursery level and that all students within the primary sector will individually be equipped with text books and proper furniture for all schools.
President Ramotar noted that the Government has not forgotten tertiary education “we are also working on our tertiary institutions so that our graduates from the University of Guyana and other tertiary institutions are of the highest quality.”
The event attracted participation from 22 schools from Regions 3, 4 and Georgetown districts, with the students, teachers and other stakeholders marching from Parade Ground to the National Park, also performing were artistes Tennicia Defreitas and Melissa Roberts aka Vanilla, and the South Ruimveldt School which gave an athletic dance display.

(By Rebecca Ganesh-Ally)