Baksh observed that the Region has been rapidly expanding in the areas of business and commerce, notably in Lethem where rice is being cultivated, oil exploration is on the table and an industrial site will soon come on stream. He said his vision is to provide the Region with the human resources to man these programmes and charter new areas of development and his ministry has been doing so by making a concerted effort to ensure that students leave school with a quality secondary education and qualified to seek higher learning.
Baksh said the Government remains committed to improve both equity and access to education and disclosed that Sand Creek Secondary School will open its doors in January while the idea of building a secondary school at Karasabi is being examined.
He encouraged the St Ignatius Headteacher, Ms. Eyette Archer, to put measures in place for students to sit Information Technology (IT) as a subject at the CSEC examinations.
Baksh undertook that the ministry will provide training to teachers for the purpose, if necessary.
He announced that all secondary schools will, from next year, be outfitted with IT laboratories and, by 2013, 200 primary schools are expected to benefit similarly.
Baksh said the objective is to make every child computer literate and get teachers to use the system as a teaching and learning tool in delivering their lessons.
Region Nine Chairman, Mr. Clarindo Lucas impressed upon the graduates that they have begun a new journey in their lives and should remain focused and seek to further their education.
He told them the Region needs qualified human resources to advance development and encouraged them to take up the challenge and become main players in the process.
Archer, Board Chairman, Mr. Alfred Ramsarran and Regional Education Officer, Mr. Owen Pollard were other speakers at the function.
Baksh was accompanied to the Region by Acting Chief Education Officer, Mr. Roopnarine Tewari and Head of the Secondary Competency Certificate Programme (SCCP) Unit, Mr. Aubrey Overton.