Baksh reports…
EDUCATION Minister Shaik Baksh reported Wednesday that 3,400 students graduated from University of Guyana (UG) Turkeyen and Tain campuses, Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) and various technical institutes and training centres in 2009.
This output of highly skilled personnel is pivotal to pushing the Government’s developmental agenda ahead, he told an end-of-year media briefing at his Lot 21 Brickdam, Georgetown office.
“Creating the knowledge economy or society is very important. We feel that tertiary level education is vital for the socio-economic transformation of Guyana,” Mr. Baksh stated.
He said, in keeping with that thrust, two new industrial training centres will be constructed this year, one at Park, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara and the other at Leonora, West Coast Demerara.
Baksh also said closer attention was given to UG last year, pointing out that several key changes in the premier tertiary institution leadership were effected, vital in moving the country forward.
He was referring to the appointments of a new Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, Registrar and Director at Tain.
Baksh said UG has submitted a three-year strategic plan, to the Ministry of Education, for modernising the institution to meet the needs of the country.
He said it is being studied but, so far, a few areas of concern have been identified and will be raised with the university management, because, at the end of the day, the Government is looking for what will meet the needs of the various sectors and stakeholders.
Baksh said: “I have called, already, for a rebalancing of the programmes that are being offered, with more emphasis on science and technology. We need a business school. We don’t even have a degree in accountancy which was discontinued some time ago, diplomas in marketing and human resources management and I have listened to the Private Sector call for that.
“What we need is a new dialogue and I know the Chancellor and the Vice- Chancellor have called for a new dialogue with the Private Sector. This has already commenced and is very commendable on their part. We have to intensify the dialogue not only with the Private Sector but the Government as well,” he maintained.
Baksh said, too, that there are many things which have to be done, including addressing the dilatoriness of some lecturers in submitting students’ course marks.
“In the end, the Government will make a decision about new funding for the university and I consider that vital. But we have to be satisfied with the new strategic plan, that it will deliver and there will be evaluation mechanisms in place to ensure targets set out in the plan are met within certain time frames,” he indicated.
