-all are welcome
EQUIPPED to serve not only students at the CIOG, but all Guyanese, the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) officially opened its ZARA Computer Centre and Library at its Woolford Avenue headquarters north of the city last Saturday. Addressing the pious and attentive gathering at the function, project facilitator, Mr. Jay Sobraj, thanked the CIOG for affording him the opportunity to work in partnership with them in making their dream of having such a facility become a reality.
Recollecting his childhood experiences while growing up as the son of a farmer, Sobraj said he had his father to thank for instilling in him the importance of having a good education.
“I do not consider giving as charity, but rather as an opportunity. Life is about giving,” he said.
Noting that the ZARA centre is one of seven such institutions opened both here and in New York in the last three years, Sobraj encouraged those students present at the opening who had just completed a training workshop, to make the most of the opportunities they’ve been given so as to make their parents proud.
“Today,” he said, “the challenge is to keep going, because it is important to give people the opportunity and hope they will make the most of it.”
The Computer Centre boasts some 40 state of the art computer units, and according to Sobraj, it is open to everyone, regardless of race, colour or creed.
Minister of Education, Mr.Shaik Baksh spoke on the importance of literacy, saying its development is critical to the Ministry of Education, and referred to the launch of remediation classes countrywide at all levels in the school system in the hope of seeing significant improvement where literacy is concerned within the next two to three years.
On the importance of computer literacy within vocational institutions, Baksh said there are currently 60 schools in the education system using the ‘Success Maker’ package, and that the remaining 60 will be included in the programme by late 2011. “We are hoping to expand this to over 200 schools to facilitate learning in literacy and numeracy,” he said.
In thanking the Zara Foundation for making the venture possible, Baksh said the opening of the computer centre is yet another milestone in the development of the school system, and for the country as a whole.
Mr. Nardeo Singh, conductor of the training workshop and the person responsible for installing the computer systems, based his presentation on the impact of technology on Guyanese, whereby he emphasized that the project should not be viewed as a donation, but rather as “a priceless vision.”
Highlighting the various ways in which the country could benefit from the advancements in Information Technology, Singh said the aim is to produce more certified and qualified persons to propel technology forward, thereby attracting investment to move the country forward.
He pointed out that over the last two years the centres in the Cove and John Ashram, on the East Coast of Demerara and on the West Coast have been well received.
According to Singh, a number of other literacy programmes are also conducted at these institutions including the ‘Big brother, Big sister’ reading programme.
He said, “More programmes like these are needed,” adding, “You cannot put a price on that vision.”
Singh took the opportunity to encourage members of the Private Sector to collaborate with the Government to further facilitate projects on this nature.
President of the CIOG, Haji Fazil Ferouze, echoed the belief that the centre will serve as a platform for the development of the nation as a whole.
He pointed out that the students will need to put into practice what they have learnt to pass on the knowledge to others.
This, he said, will ensure that more persons are trained in the facility that was constructed to benefit all Guyanese.
Thanking the members of the ZARA foundation, the CIOG President said: “We pledge that we will work with you to ensure that our partnership continues. We look forward to a lasting relationship between ZARA and the CIOG.”