– Baksh
THE teaching of Information Technology (IT) at J.C. Chandisingh Secondary School, Corentyne, Berbice, got a boost last Friday, with the donation of 25 computers from its alumni. It was made possible through a partnership with prominent Berbice businessman, Mr. Ron Ramnarayan and a release said Education Minister Shaik Baksh remarked that the good gesture will not only facilitate the delivery but promote learning in the other subject areas, as well.

The release said Mr. Baksh exhorted the school’s administrators to maintain the systems and point out that measures are being put place to hold headteachers accountable.

He told the gathering of teachers, parents and students that, under the Ministry of Education 2008 to 2013 Strategic Plan, strong focus is being placed on Information Communication Technology (ICT) and the gifts put the Ministry a step closer to achieving its objectives in this area.

Baksh said Government is seeking to have all secondary schools equipped with IT laboratories by 2012 and 50 per cent of primary schools by 2013.

He said this benchmark cannot be achieved with Government’s resources alone and requires the involvement of the Guyanese diaspora and the old students associations of the various schools.

Baksh said, currently, about 60 secondary schools already have computers but another 60 are yet to receive.

He lauded the Canada based non-governmental organisation (NGO), Global Partnership for Literacy (GPL), for its sterling contribution in making computers available at Diamond, Patentia, Beterverwagting, Parika and the New Hope secondary schools.

Baksh said, at the primary level, close to 60 schools will be equipped with computers this year and more teachers will be trained to teach the IT curriculum.

He said more than 200 teachers have already been trained to impart the programme at different levels and the Education Ministry is looking to regionalise the training.

ESTABLISHMENT
Baksh said that development will see the establishment of a centre in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) for that purpose.

He commended the J.C. Chandisingh students on their overall performance at the last Caribbean Secondary Educate Certificate (CSEC) examinations.

The school, last year, recorded a 78 per cent pass rate in English ‘A’, counting grades one to three, above the national average of 50 per cent and a 32 per cent pass rate in Mathematics, level with the national average.

Baksh challenged the Principal, Ms. Barbra Hamilton to not only maintain but to improve the performance at the next CSEC examinations.

He emphasised that his goal is to return Guyana to its former position as the most educated nation in the Caribbean and said the J.C. Chandisingh Secondary has been making some positive strides in this regard.

Baksh also encouraged the school to form a choir which can later be part of the National School Choir.

He said, such a move, along with the introduction of Physical Education in schools is geared to help the Ministry produce rounded individuals in the school system.

Hamilton thanked the donors and said her CSEC IT students will no longer have to go to the University of Guyana (UG) Tain Campus to do their practical exercises.

She said the newly acquired systems will go a far way in improving students’ performance at the CSEC IT examinations and serve as vital tools in providing other students with relevant information for their assignments.

J.C. Chandisingh Secondary School Alumni Association President, Mr. Rishi Singh said more gifts are to come, as they are trying to make every child leaving the school a successful individual in society.

But said the school’s administrators will have to maintain the systems in order to receive more support from the association.

Region Six, Regional Education Officer (REO), Mrs. Shafiran Bhajan also made remarks on the occasion, the release said.