At graduation for 230…
THE Berbice Centre of University of Guyana’s (UG’s) Institute of Distance and Continuing Education (IDCE) graduated 230 more students at its recent 29th graduation exercise.

The graduates received certificates in 11 disciplines from courses in Industrial Relations and Management, Social Work, Supervisory Management, Marketing Management, Early Childhood Education, Care for the Elderly, Home Care Nursing, pre-university English, pre-university Mathematics, Food and Nutrition and Cosmetology.

Among those attending the mid-afternoon ceremony in New Amsterdam Town Hall were Vice-Chancellor, Professor Lawrence Carrington; Registrar, Mr. Vincent Alexander and Deputy Registrar, Ms. King, all of UG; retired IDCE Director, Mr. Samuel Small; current Director, Dr Shamar, other high ranking functionaries and special invitees.

In her report, Resident Tutor of the Berbice institution, Ms. Janice John said the year was a challenging one and alluded to the adverse effects of the global financial crisis.

“The decrease in remittances from abroad has forced students to withdraw from many programmes. Initially, there were 480 registered for the 2008-2009 year. However, only 230 have graduated, as the others were forced to drop out because of low financial support,” she reported. John, who took up the post seven weeks before the graduation, noted that, among the constraints faced, are the lack of advertisements through the electronic media.

According to her, the IDCE competitors are very innovative and would, often times, tell viewers that the IDCE certificates are invalid as compared to theirs.

She said IDCE is the sole institution offering foundation programmes for adult learners.

Accommodation
John said, in order to enhance accommodation in the currently cramped facility, some courses will be taught at the Tain Campus of UG and those that span all the faculties would be modified.

Delivering the feature address, Assistant Director of the UG Tain Campus, Mr. Phillip Da Silva gave a few pointers which, he said, if followed, would yield success to the applicant.

“I can assure you that, when you live your dream, you often get a chance to be a success in life. So live your dream. And, if you are faced with a change of dreams, embrace the situation with your entire being and make a success of it,” he advised the graduates.

Da Silva told them: ”Now that you have graduated and are embarking on a new phase of your life, I wish to say to you: ‘Never, ever, get full of yourself. Never think you are it. Think of yourself as being given an opportunity to embark on a life and career that you love.

“Never get to the point where you think that you’re that important, that once the world has become aware of you, it cannot do without you or your talent. Be humble. Humility and creativity are worthy qualities that get you through a fulfilled life. These qualities are gifts to you from a higher being. All of us are given gifts, but what we do with those gifts and how we use them is what is important. Some people never find out what their gifts are. Some people never know what their gifts are. Some people never use their gifts wisely. But your being here today says to me that you have certainly discovered what your gifts are and you have started to use your gifts wisely.

“So always remember and tell yourself that you are gifted with the love of perseverance, courage, strength and success,” he lectured them. Da Silva noted that the mission statement of UG, of which IDCE is a part, is to discover, generate, disseminate and apply knowledge of the highest standard for the service of the community, the nation and all mankind, within an atmosphere of academic freedom that allows for free and critical enquiry.

“Remember that there are many ways to transfer the knowledge and skills that you have acquired at the IDCE. Your knowledge can be used to help solve social problems or address major public issues, or even offer expert commentary in the media, or engage in activities that illuminate the public with an enlightening exhibition of performances. Always let your knowledge transfer embrace a two-way interaction between you, as an individual and your community, where knowledge is exchanged for the mutual benefit of both. Guyana is currently facing many challenges and it is my hope that, with and through the training that you have received, you are equipped and willing to make a major contribution to addressing these challenges. Let no one tell you that you cannot. Act the part, live the part and be the part. Be a shining example of the person you were trained to be,” he admonished the graduating group.

Jobs
Valedictorian Devendra Malhotra mentioned the need for jobs for those who have upgraded their skills.

“Many of us, you will agree, will be forced to seek greener pastures beyond these shores, with few, new industries being set up to accommodate the number available, as the school system churns out hundreds each July. Yet Guyana, moreso Berbice, continues to lose its most productive, youthful, energetic and qualified workforce,” he observed.

The best graduating student said the enabling environment, conductive to entrepreneurship and small businesses, leaves much to be desired, with the financial institutions’ stringent stipulations and conditionalities, Government bureaucracy coupled with political strife and high crime rate prove very much deterrent to setting up business.

However, Malhotra, who achieved a distinction in Industrial Relations and Management, urged the others to seize upon the privileges to better their academic and technical expertise and grasp every opportunity that presents itself.

“Take risks. With each new day, new opportunities will present themselves. If you are already employed, continue to be punctual and courteous, improve on efficiency and increase the productivity levels; build capacity within your firm,” he suggested.

Malhotra said, for those who would rather seek to establish a business venture, the Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED) is a good source of capital.

“Make a change, be a change. As we go forth, we will have to set aside fear and prejudice before we can advance and truly uphold our sense of justice and dignity,” he challenged.