School of the Nations opening…
PRIME Minister Samuel Hinds unveiled a commemorative plaque on Tuesday at the opening of School of the Nations at its new location on New Market Street, South Cummingsburg, Georgetown. He remarked that, in the years of the school’s existence, it has grown and is gearing to present a challenge to the premier academic institutions, more specifically, public schools.
“We welcome competition and hope competition would spur emulation,” the Prime Minister said, referring to the standard set by School of the Nations.
Mr. Hinds was delivering the feature address at the ceremony themed ‘Making a difference today and tomorrow’, to a gathering of parents, teachers, students and other stakeholders.
The institution has been operating for 15 years and was previously located in Parade Street, Kingston, another city ward, where the premises were rented.
Hinds said the present Government views the advancement of education as quintessential to make Guyanese people as good as they can be.
“This year we put 16 per cent of our budget into education,” he pointed out, stating it was the maximum allocation that could be made into the sector.
“We welcome private institutions like this one…we look to School of the Nations and other private schools to set examples,” Hinds reiterated.
He acknowledged that private institutions are more flexible on a number of platforms, such as salaries for teachers and adaptation to change but contended that public schools are no less when comparing the performances.
Education Minister Shaik Baksh, who also spoke at the function, lauded the private investment as a significant one and highlighted the importance of partnership between the public and private sectors.
“With everyone on board, we can succeed in advancing education,” he agreed.
According to him, partnerships will serve to improve the education system and can only be viewed as a must, an undertaking that must be addressed.
Baksh said the investment by School of the Nations is timely as the Government has, itself, over the last decade, been investing heavily in education.
“Government is firmly committed to education because it sees education as the key to the transformation of Guyana, of the lives of the citizens. Education will result in growth of the economy and ensure that segments of the population move out from the stigma of poverty,” he posited.

Cognisant

Baksh said the present Administration, being cognisant of this, has opted to invest in education.
He noted that, at the nursery and primary levels, significant investments have been made but assured of a commitment to invest more in tertiary education.
Additionally, the Education Minister said it is important for the reality to be understood, the challenges that persist and the kind of achievement levels which would be required to move the education sector forward.
In this regard, Baksh opined that interventions made must advance the agenda while focusing on the quality imperative.
He said a review of the curriculum is also an area that is being addressed in light of the fact that education not only surrounds academics but speaks to other areas, like moral education and health and family life.
Baksh said the Government, in new education legislation, is making provisions for private educational institutions, in terms of instituting various regulations that will serve to maintain certain standards.
He disclosed that there are approximately 84 private educational institutions in Guyana with a total of 12,700 students on roll, at all levels.
Baksh said that represents 6.5 per cent of the total student population in the country and those institutions have a role to play in contributing to the standard of education and advancing the national education agenda.
In that context, he said: “I commend the School of the Nations on this new thrust in education. I am sure that School of the Nations will be able to help the education system to  improve and contribute significantly to its transformation.”
The Director, Dr. Brian O’Toole, in his remarks, declared that the staff is the core and heart of School of the Nations.
He said: “Today is a tribute to the inputs of many and a celebration of the rich tapestry of diversity that is the strength of Guyana.”
O’Toole said the perpetual challenge is to stimulate children to learn to think, to be creative and productive and become active participants in building a new world order.
“The goal has been to help children realise that happiness and self-respect is achieved through service to mankind,” he offered.
O’Toole added that success in education lies in different areas,  academics, sports, the arts, service to the community and moral capabilities.
He said, in celebrating the accomplishments of the school, the development of the Mainstay Village and New Amsterdam branches in Regions Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) and Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) are also celebrated.
O’Toole announced that current programmes will continue, including the assistance being offered to 65 children and youths from ‘Tiger Bay’ also in South Cummingsburg.
Those beneficiaries attend the school in the afternoons and are assisted in the areas of literacy, numeracy, science, computer training and recreational activities, such as swimming and games.
In the coming month, O’Toole said School of the Nations will be looking towards the completion of a swimming pool, the construction of an indoor sports hall, the establishment of a music room, establishing a video production unit, developing a high calibre science laboratory and erecting a three-storey building to house School of the Nations University.
“The challenge is to help prepare children for a new world order with new realities and rich new possibilities. The hope of School of the Nations is for the students to be enlightened in their thinking, enriched in their souls and ennobled in their deeds,” he informed.