During Golden Jubilee celebration…
EDUCATION Minister Shaik Baksh called on teachers – both old and new, to work dedicatedly towards restoring the high values of discipline in students, and to rekindle within the ranks of teachers, the element of commitment to the job, which once was the hallmark of the education system. He made this sobering call last Wednesday while addressing an august gathering of educators, at a ceremony to celebrate the Golden Jubilee (50th anniversary) of the 26th batch (1959-1960) of graduating teachers of the former Government Training College at the Cyril Potter College of Education, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown.
Baksh had kudos for those teachers whose dedicated performance and commitment to the profession throughout the years contributed significantly to the moulding of the nation’s most precious resource – the human resource.  Albeit, he observed, the level of discipline expected of students; commitment of teachers to the job; and the role of the community in helping to mould ‘the child’ have declined compared to times gone by.
And hailing the contribution of the veterans to Guyana’s development as ‘par excellence,’ he was of the opinion that they can play a meaningful niche role in aiding the revival of the declining culture of discipline, as is evident both on the part of teachers and students.
While commending the dedication and commitment to the job, on the part of many current teachers who work tirelessly to improve the performance of their students, the Education Minister was nonetheless critical of others who he claimed, are yet to emulate their colleagues’ outstanding traits.
Minister Baksh recalled the days when the community ‘looked out for’ and played an integral role in the moulding and disciplining of the child, and when teaching was viewed as a prestigious profession….when insubordinate behaviour by students was almost non-existent.  Such values are needed now, more than ever before, he affirmed.
In this regard, he called on educators and policymakers to take positive steps to arrest the decline in values on the part of students, and the woefully lost culture of respect for teachers and their peers.
He pointed to systems being put in place by the education ministry to address these concerns, adding: “We have started the process; we have a vibrant Schools’ Welfare Department and more recently, with the introduction of the Associate Degree Programme, teachers graduating from the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) will receive the kind of orientation that makes them understand the importance of their noble task of educating the nation’s children.”
The minister also used the occasion to appeal to more males to join the teaching profession, pointing out that half of 150 trainee teachers of the 26th graduating class were male.
Batch mate of the 26th graduating class and former Chief Education Officer, Oswald Kendall, in recounting his eventful and memorable days as a trainee teacher, expressed gratitude to his lecturers who played an important role in building the foundation of his career.
Kendall recalled that it was during his studies that he became better acquainted with values for life, role models, dedication to duty, caring and sharing – all of which instilled in him a high level of discipline and a fulfilling life long experience.
His 1959-1960 class, he said was a watershed period for teacher training in Guyana as for the first time 150 teachers were trained at classes held at the venue which now houses the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), Battery Road, Kingston.
Back then, he said a Grade One Class One Trained Teacher Certificate was a very reputable qualification and was a certain pass to obtain admission to the University of Guyana.
Meanwhile, on a different note, the former Chief Education Officer said that while it is customary for new graduates to petition for changes in the education system, on behalf of senior citizens over 70 years, he would like Baksh to persuade Cabinet for them to receive NIS benefits. A concern the minister promised to raise at his Cabinet sub-committee meeting.
Tutor of the 26th graduating class, Samuel Small who is also celebrating 50 years as an educator, said that there are certain students he cannot forget, (including Kendall) who were noticeably brilliant and diligent in their studies.
The former lecturer said that teachers are often times the unsung heroes and heroines of their country and on that point, he praised the college for its sterling contribution to the education sector.
Even though most of those numbered among the class of 150 would have been absent from the celebrations, either through death, or migration, it was an occasion on which to honour them. Among those present were: Mr. Oswald Kendall, Flavio Comacho, Maitland John, Samuel Archer, Leila King Ward (London-based), Daphne Rogers, Elsa Mc Kenzie and Rosaline Garrett.
Baksh also unveiled a plaque to commemorate the Golden Jubilee occasion and the class presented to the college a 29-inch television and a VCR. They also made presentations to their former lecturers:  Ms. Blanche Duke, Edna Cadogan and Ms. Barbara Thomas, current Principal of the CPCE.