-Education Minister
EDUCATION Minister Sheik Baksh on Friday again called for parents to play a greater role in their children’s education, saying that students will only produce the desired results if parents gave their unfettered support.
He made the appeal during an inspection visit to the Lusignan-Good Hope Learning Centre on the East Coast of Demerara.
Baksh told the gathering, which included parents, teachers and children, that the role of parents cannot be overemphasized and noted that the subject will be given much attention during Education Month which begins in September.
Education Month 2010 is observed under the theme, “Child-Friendly Homes: Child-Friendly Classrooms-Quality Education”.
He emphasized that his ministry remains committed to ensuring that every child, including slow learners, leaves school with a sound education and with the right mindset to improve his/her live, community and the country as a whole.
Baksh stressed that this task cannot be achieved by the Ministry of Education alone and appealed to all stakeholders to shoulder their responsibilities in this regard.
On that note, he lauded Restoring Hope International, Inc. a United States based Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) which founded the centre that has been in operation since last year.
The minister noted that the centre plays an important role in supporting the national drive to eliminate illiteracy and provides a vital service to the Lusignan/ Good Hope communities.
The centre is equipped with a library, and a computer room and offers programmes in literacy, art and craft, after school lessons for academically weak students, remedial classes, adult education classes and counselling services.
The goal of the school, headed by Sandra Shivdat, who is ably supported by Mohamed Ally, a board member, both overseas based Guyanese, is to break the cycle of despair and bring hope and optimism to impoverished families in the poor areas of Guyana.
Its mission is to promote literacy, emphasise the value of education to parents and children in vulnerable communities and equip children with the necessary values and skills to be independent thinkers and creative minds who embrace self-respect and respect for others.
These objectives, Baksh said, fit into the vision of his ministry and he commended the work done by the NGO in bringing about change in these areas.
He also called on other members in the Guyanese diaspora to emulate the strides being made by Restoring Hope International, Inc., noting that there is a need for more learning resource facilities on the coastland.
The management of the school also used the occasion to host a luncheon for the children at the centre to coincide with the minister’s visit.