Government’s overall agenda of ensuring that development in Guyana equips the population to be viable was in form yesterday as Minister of Education, Shaik Baksh, met with members of the media to update them about several areas within the education sector, in the context of preparing for the reopening of school, on September 6.
He indicated that an overall assessment of the academic year 2009-2010 indicates that the Ministry overcame a challenging period with progressive implementation of various elements of the Administration’s Five-Year Strategic Plan.
During the period, there was significant reform within the teaching profession, especially in the area of education and training, the installation of more Information and Communications Technology (ICT) laboratories in primary and secondary schools and continued application of the literacy and numeracy programme.
In preparing for the new school year, the earmarked priorities throughout Guyana’s education system will see the activation of a massive infrastructure repair and maintenance programme, including erecting secure fencing around many of the nation’s academic institutions.
Special attention will be placed on ensuring that sanitation blocks are in good shape. Seventy-one projects will be undertaken in and around Georgetown, including, significantly, upgrades to the Carnegie School of Home Economics. The Minister assured that there will be the ongoing monitoring of construction contracts, to ensure that there is timely completion of buildings.
For September, three new schools will open their doors at Tuschen, Parfaite Harmonie and Belle West, Region 3. At Sandcreek, Region 9, construction is 95% completed on the secondary school for that community.
Significant works are also nearing completion at Waramdong, Region 7 and Paramakatoi, Region 8. Additionally, dormitories to house hinterland students studying on the coast and in Georgetown will all be ready for occupancy.
Minister Baksh acknowledged that the National School Feeding programme encountered several problems, which are attributable to the impact of El Nino, the dry weather phenomenon that affected farmlands across the country.
As a result, many fruits perished, thereby reducing the base commodity used by Demerara Distillers Limited to make the juice products used by the Ministry in the snacks provided for students. Minister Baksh assured that there is a written statement from the manufacturing company that all of the fruits and related products used to make juices are fresh and that the product has a six-month shelf life.
He noted that the situation was further compounded by transportation and storage implications to and at schools in various parts of the country.
In this regard, current upgrades are being undertaken that will bring relief within the next two months. All schools have reported satisfaction with the feeding programme and empirical data collected show higher number of students in attendance at several institutions where the programme has been implemented.
The provision of clothing for Guyana’s students by Government, an intervention that has been lauded by parents, will see 177,000 students benefiting. Thus far 130,000 vouchers have been issued. The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs is overseeing the sewing of uniforms for 30,000 hinterland students.
On the matter of Grade 6 placement, Minister Baksh said that “there has been an unacceptable level of service in some regions and the Ministry is working in areas to ensure children are placed at schools closest to their residence, thereby facilitating requests from parents for transfers based on where they reside.” He emphasized that there will be more monitoring from the central ministry and more officers will be available to serve the needs of parents, students and the administrative responsibilities of the sector.
Specific reference was made towards ensuring that the quality of results from Guyana’s students is of an acceptably high and competitive standard will see developments to reinforce remedial tuition in the area of Mathematics.
On the issue of President’s College (PC), Minister Baksh stated that “the school has been performing creditably, and continues to show high results. It has a full complement of teachers and Government is giving this school a lot of attention.” He reiterated that PC remains a sixth-form school, one of the top secondary institutions in Guyana and is a functionally being used to service the intellectual ability and capacity of capable non-coastal students.
He noted that Government will attend to upgrading the physical infrastructure of the building and facilities and called on the Board and active Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of PC to assist in the upkeep of the school and its surroundings. (GINA)