Thirty-two persons yesterday graduated from the Education Ministry’s National Volunteer Teachers Programme, which aims to make a positive influence in the lives of Guyana’s youths. Present at the ceremony at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) were Minister of Education Shaik Baksh, Acting Chief Education Officer Roopnarine Tewari, Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) Programme Manager Tara Persaud and Acting Chief Education Officer (Secondary) Melcita Bovell, among others.
The volunteers, who endured three weeks of intense training, will be deployed to various hinterland and riverine schools and communities for a one-year period, commencing from the new school year in September.
In addition to academics, the volunteers were trained to be involved in extra-curricular activities, which aim to benefit communities as well.
Minister Baksh stated that the volunteer programme is another step to improve the quality of education in hinterland and riverine areas.
VSO was instrumental in helping to stage the volunteer teacher programme.
He advised that they take their mission seriously, noting that a booklet about volunteerism will soon be distributed to all Regional Administrations, Head Teachers and communities, in an effort to bring about awareness.
“He pointed out that the Ministry is working to have an even distribution of teachers around the country and took the opportunity to urge the volunteers to upgrade their qualifications and return to the teachers’ training college and become trained teachers.
Tewari said that he is grateful for the role that the volunteers will play, commended them for taking up the rigorous training and said that they will be supported by the Ministry and other organisations.
Tewari added that members of the Ministry and other organisations will be visiting the areas where they will be deployed, to ensure that they are supervised by senior and head teachers of the respective schools and communities.
Persaud noted that this year, the programme has received the strongest collaboration with the Ministry, Youth Challenge Guyana and VSO, and hopes it will have a greater impact compared to past years.
She added that the volunteers will be deployed into eight of the ten Administrative Regions and over 600 students will be able to benefit from quality education.
Persaud emphasised that this way, children will be enthusiastic about taking part in more activities. It will also assist senior teachers and ease the pressure off them.
She encouraged persons to get involved in volunteer activities in communities, particularly males, to help and support members of their communities.