THE Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) has distributed 26 bursary awards to children who ranked with the highest marks in the National Grade Six Assessment Programme. The children were selected from among the Union’s membership of the various branches and were accompanied to the presentation ceremony by their parents.
The Union’s General Secretary, Seepaul Narine, led the proceedings at GAWU’s office, High Street, Kingston, Georgetown, along with Assistant General Secretary Derek Thakur and Treasurer Rooplall Persaud.
The presentation was done simultaneously with one in New Amsterdam, Berbice, where 12 of the 26 children received awards that consisted of a cheque for $9,000. Parents and children were also provided with snacks and reimbursed for travel costs.
In his remarks, Narine said education is a must in today’s world of modern science and technology, in view of the fact that the internet has created a new horizon that has revolutionized so many aspects of life throughout the world.
“The young persons who are school delinquent and those students who neglect the opportunities afforded them will regret this in their adult lives, since their paucity of education would not give them a fair opportunity in the world of work,” Narine stated.
The Union, he said, recognized that there is no age limit to learning. Therefore, in order to improve the education of members regarding workplace issues, a brand new college, the GAWU Labour College, was constructed last March.
Since its opening, he said, classes drawing participants from the many workplaces that the Union represents were conducted.
Narine encouraged the children to set goals and decide what further educational success they wish to attain. “ You must be dedicated to your studies and this is the right time at your age, basically because you are young and free,” he said.
He urged parents and guardians to be watchful over their young ones so as to ensure that they continue to give the requisite time and dedication to their studies.