AS the 2015 batch of the Burnham Education Scholarship Trust (BEST) awardees received their bursaries yesterday, they were urged to see education as an entitlement and to grasp at the opportunity to learn.The charge was made by President David Granger as he addressed students, their parents, and well-wishers who gathered at Congress Place, Sophia, for the simple ceremony.

“We have committed ourselves to ensuring that every person who enters the BEST as an awardee will build a relationship [with us]… We want you to remain [in the programme] every single year to see you through your secondary school, and, hopefully, when finances and circumstance permit, to see you through university as well,” President Granger said.
Commending the 12 awardees on their achievement at this year’s National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), the president urged that they not rest on their laurels, but rather see it as the beginning of greater things to come.
He also urged that they not look upon the bursary as a mere “hand out,” but as a “hand up” for their parents, in that they would have one less thing to worry about.
As is the Government’s policy on education, President Granger committed to working towards free education for all, from nursery to university, as this is still one of the pillars of the Constitution of Guyana.
“I believe, in the marrow of my bones, that education is an entitlement; and unless children have access to education we will have in this country something called educational apartheid,” he said.
And in order to achieve this goal, President Granger spoke of his Administration’s plans to provide the basic needs, such as textbooks, uniforms, meals, and transportation for school children in all 10 administrative regions.
He also spoke of the Administration’s efforts to bridge the education gap between the rich and the less fortunate, noting that moves will be made to bring about equal opportunity within the education sector.
As he wished the awardees every success in the academic year ahead, he urged that they “avoid the pitfalls of adolescence,” particularly teenage pregnancy, which continues to be a growing problem among teens.
On that note, the President said organisations such as the BEST should step in and play a greater role in tackling the issue of teenage pregnancy in schools and the growing number of school dropouts.
In closing, he took the opportunity to thank the many donors who have over the years played a role in keeping the scholarship programme alive.

This year’s awardees are: Orel Emanuel of Region 1 (Barima-Waini); Jahiem Roberts of Region 2 (Pomeroon-Supenaam); Latoya Woolford of Region 3 (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); Reanna Mc Curchin, Gianni Carpenter and Shemar Bascom, all of Region 4 (Demerara-Mahaica); Eon Duncan of Region 5 (Mahaica-Berbice); Jahiem Hutson of Region 6 (East Berbice-Corentyne ); Akeem Williams of Region 7 (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); Lori Ann Gildhari of Region 8 (Potaro-Siparuni); and Kerri Ann Khan and Nkechi Layne of Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice).
The BEST Awards Programme was founded four years ago by President Granger, and is a registered, non-governmental, non-profit sharing trust. (Office of the Presidency)