EDUCATION Minister Shaik Baksh yesterday emphasized that the desired success of the Ministry of Education will not be achieved unless parents give their unstinting support to ensure that their children receive a quality education.
Baksh expressed the sentiments at the opening of the inaugural education fair themed “Partners in Child Development” at the Ministry of Education Sports Complex on Carifesta Avenue, noting that parents are presumably the weakest link in the education sector.
The minister pointed out that the Ministry of Education has been making a concerted effort to create more child-friendly classrooms in the school system and it is time that more parents begin to make their homes more child-friendly by playing a more active role in their children’s education.
He told the gathering which included Heath Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy; Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai; senior education officials, teachers, parents and hundreds of students that the role of parents in their children’s education cannot be overstated and all stakeholders need to come on board.
Baksh said the Schools’ Welfare Department, through the Guidance and Counseling officers, the School’s Welfare officers, and the Parent/Teacher Association Coordinator has been working aggressively throughout the country to get parents to understand the value of education.
Baksh explained too that his team has been working to build partnerships with stakeholders to strengthen efforts in this regard, as it has recognized that the task at hand cannot be adequately handled by the Ministry alone.
He stressed that the message has been “catching on” and the Ministry will not rest until all parents recognize and embrace the importance of education to their children’s development as well as the development of the country.
The minister noted that the Ministries of Health, Labour, Human Services and Social Security, Local Government and Amerindian Affairs, along with international agencies such as the PHO/WHO, UNDP, UNICEF, UNESCO and several local non-governmental organizations have come on board in support of the work of the Ministry of Education.
On that point, he said that the time is ripe for parents to get more involved in their children’s education now, more than ever before, and underscored that the Ministry of Education remains steadfastly committed to work in the best interest of the nations’ children.
Parents, he told the well attended event, can also do simple things to improve the outcomes of their children in the classroom, such as reading to them, making sure that they do their homework and attend school regularly and punctually, and by monitoring their behaviour both in and out of school.
Apart from the need for parents to get more involved in their children’s education, he said that more Guidance and Counselling officers will be placed in the school system to make schools more violent free environments. Students councils will also be established to give students a greater voice in the decision making process of their respective schools.
In addition, he said that more attention is being given to Physical Education, Drama, Dance and Sports in school to mould round students in the school system.
Health Minster Dr. Leslie Ramsammy commended Minister Baksh for establishing an education fair, pointing out that the welfare of children is the business of the entire nation and no effort must be spared to ensure that they realize their full potential.
He emphasized the importance of early childhood education in the child’s learning process and disclosed that the Early Childhood Education Development Committee will be resuscitated with the relevant ministries on board with a more vibrant programme.
According to Ramsammy, Minister Baksh has been a champion in the inter-disciplinary approach to education and was optimistic that the partnerships being created will provide the necessary impetus to overcome the challenges to building an efficient, productive and results oriented education sector.
He also disclosed that the Ministry of Health will be working closely with the Ministry of Education to introduce a training programme for vendors in and around the school environment to ensure that they comply with basic health requirements.
Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai was also in high praise of the Ministry of Education, pointing out that the school feeding programme has been making a positive impact on students’ attendance, while at the same time enabling rural farmers to enjoy a sustainable livelihood. The farmers supply the produce for the programme.
Child Protection Unit, Deputy Director Diana Lawrence lauded the government for instituting the legislative framework to comprehensively address issues affecting the child and called on children not to be silent on matters of abuse, noting that some 85 per cent of reported cases occur in the home.
PHO/WHO representative Adrianus Vlugman and UNICEF Education Programme Director Audrey Rodrigues also spoke at the event, and both acknowledged the nexus between health and education and stressed the importance of the connection in the development of rounded and productive students.
The fair showcased the SSCP along with Advance Technical and Vocational programmes, IT in schools, the various programmes to promote literacy and numeracy in school, the HLFE programme and the Associate Degree in Education Programme that will soon be offered by the Cyril Potter College of Education.
There were also booths showcasing the work of the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Fire Service, PHO/WHO, the Red Cross, the Allied Arts Unit, the Examinations Division and the Schools’ Welfare Department.
Participants also received free mobile dental screening, testing and screening for blood pressure and sugar levels, and HIV counseling and testing.