THE Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Georgetown has donated sports gear valued $2.4M to the Ministry of Education.
Ambassador Yu Wenzhe, who did the handing over,  said his government is pleased to help Guyana build an active, rounded and healthy youth population and he commended the significant allocation to the education sector in this year’s National Budget.
The diplomat declared that investment in youth is investing to build a brighter future for the country.
The items donated were 200 footballs, 200 volleyballs, 200 basketballs, 80 table tennis racquets, seven tables, 80 badminton racquets, 80 dozen badminton shuttles, 500 tennis balls, 50 tennis racquets, 30 stop watches and 45 whistles, all to be distributed to 56 schools throughout the country.
The gifts are to boost Physical Education (PE) and Sport in schools and Education Minister Shaik Baksh received them from the Ambassador on Wednesday, at the Education Ministry Sports Complex, Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown.
Baksh expressed gratitude to the Chinese Government for supporting the local agenda for promoting the two disciplines in schools and disclosed that, apart from the donation, the donor has been providing skilled personnel in the areas of PE and Sport.
He said, already two batches of volunteers have completed stints, working with the Allied Arts Unit and a third batch of five is expected by June.
The volunteers have served both at the public secondary schools and the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) and he said they have been of significant help in addressing the shortage of skills to impart the two subjects.
Baksh noted that the expected batch will play a critical role in maintaining the high standards set by their countrymen.
He said, too, that the Ministry is moving to not only expand the two disciplines in schools but also to put more focus on the arts to create rounded students in the system.
According to a Ministry release, PE is a regular part of the secondary schools’ curriculum and the drive has been gathering momentum as the number of students sitting the subject at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations has been increasing over the years.
The average pass rate in the discipline, over the past three years, is around 98 per cent and that is encouraging, the release said.
It added that Baksh also announced that the Sports Complex will be opened to schools after 15:00 h on other weekdays and at 13:00 h on Fridays on a rotational basis.
He said the Ministry is looking to open another recreational ground for students in South Georgetown and he has approached the Chairman of the Queen’s College Board of Governors about opening the one there to students of other schools.