CARNEGIE School of Home Economics, at High and D’Urban Streets, Georgetown, celebrated 77 years of existence on Wednesday. Commenting on the milestone, the Principal, Ms. Penelope Harris said, while reflecting on past achievements, new ideas must be embraced as the institution looks toward expansion.
“We have to press towards the future and embrace new ideas. We have to rethink the method of delivery, our styles and embrace what is necessary to meet demands,” she said, in an invited comment.
Harris said, to address the expansion, the school has undertaken some infrastructural works. In the last year, refurbishing was done to the exterior of the building and, this year, the process will continue apace, including on internal renovations, extensions and the grounds.
She said the major challenge is the increased requests for training at the school which does not now possess the necessary resources to cater the many.
“We recognise that, definitely, we need to expand. We need to have better facilities,” Harris reiterated.
She said the changes in demand for enhanced expertise in industry also necessitate advancement.
“To do this, we need better equipment and more equipped staff who are in touch with the industry,” Harris said, noting that that the school’s method of programme delivery has been changed to competency based education and training (CBET).
“Before we did group learning and a teacher would know the specific competency but the certificate never showed that. Now the competency based certificate will indicate the specific competencies. Staff are being trained to address this change as it is what the industry is demanding. They want people who are competent and the new methodology gives them that,” she explained.
Harris said, because the new strategy demands a certain amount of space per student, moving to expand is all the more timely.
In the coming year, she said Guyanese can expect a better level Carnegie, as it seeks to upgrade existing facilities and services.
“We have always delivered very good services and very good training but the level we offer will be upgraded,” Harris assured.
Religious service
As part of the commemoration, staffers, students and other stakeholders of the institution assembled at Trinity Methodist Church, opposite, for a religious service that was followed by an exhibition of the creative abilities of the institute’s students.
It featured a Health Fair and Recipe Competition.
Carnegie School of Home Economics, formerly Carnegie Trade School has its genesis in the 19th Century when several learning institutions were established to educate young women in the society.
The existing 77-year-old edifice was the result of an initiative by a committee spearheaded by Major W. Bain Gray, then Director of Education, who believed that there should be a programme of study for young girls, which included domestic courses, such as needlework, cookery, laundry and housekeeping.
Funding was the responsibility of the Carnegie Board of Trustees and, later, the United Kingdom Trust Fund.
During the period 1937 to 1958, Carnegie Trade School decided to commercialise its operations by producing custom made ladies’ garments and uniforms for government employees and large scale catering was also undertaken on request.
In September 1958, trading at the institution was discontinued and a consequent name change was effected to Carnegie School of Home Economics.
There were also changes to the curriculum and Arithmetic, English, Social Studies, Geography, Art and Craft, Home Management, Food and Nutrition and Clothing and Textiles were incorporated into the core subjects.
This was aimed at giving every girl an opportunity to learn all the skills and attitudes necessary for a good home, family and community life.
From 1957 to 1958, Carnegie School of Home Economics also initiated a Home Economics Emergency Training Programme for teachers and trainees came from all three counties, Demerara, Essequibo and Berbice.
In 1971, Carnegie formalised its catering service to give more specialised training in food preparation and delivery and September 2007, it was merged with the Craft Production and Design Division currently housed in what was the residence of the first Principal, situated at the rear of the school.
Desmond Hoyte
The present institution was formalised on January 1, 1978, having evolved from the Community Development Division under the Ministry of Cooperatives, headed by then Minister Desmond Hoyte.
Over the years, that division was sustained with funds provided by Central Government and its own resources through a revolving fund but, today, Carnegie is solely the responsibility of the Education Ministry.
It is the leading training institution in the catering and hospitality industry in Guyana, which, effectively, trains persons in food preparation and service.
Currently, it offers full time programmes in Household Management (two years), Catering and Hospitality (one year), Garment Construction (two years) and Cosmetology (one year).
Evening classes, of 10 weeks duration, teach fabric decoration, crochet and macramé, elementary and advance cooking, elementary and advance cake and pastry making, floral arrangement, cake decoration, elementary tailoring and dress making, also at the intermediate and advance levels.
The celebrations are themed ‘Bearing Much Fruit’.