GOVERNMENT’S commitment to ensuring that the younger population receive quality education was Saturday vindicated when 34 students graduated from a Public Management certificate programme offered by the University of Guyana, (UG) through the Institute of Distance and Continuing Education (IDCE). Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, who delivered the feature address at the ceremony at the Hope Secondary School, East Coast Demerara, commended the students for participating in the course and urged them to make the best use of their qualification.
“This is for those of you who are graduating, this is an important step to continuing, I hope, lifelong education,” the Prime Minister told the students.
He further encouraged them to always do the best job they can, to be conscientious and responsible in the work place, as well as to look at ways in which they can contribute meaningfully to society.
The Prime Minister noted that most of the students who attended the classes have jobs, acknowledging that it must have been difficult, but expressed his appreciation that they persevered and can consider themselves better qualified today than they were yesterday.
The graduating class went through a rigorous six-month instruction session that involved 15 modules, Ganga Persaud, one of the facilitators, said in brief remarks.
Courses offered included: the nature of management; the management process; critical roles and skills of management; evolution of the theoretical aspect of management; and the role of theory in public management.
He stated that the methods of delivery during the programme, which commenced in July 2010, were through lectures, demonstrations, group work, and power point presentations.
The programme is offered by the University of Guyana, and originally costs $60,000, but students were required to pay only $10,500 for registration, with the facilitators providing their services free of charge.
Of the 34 graduates, 13 gained distinctions, 17 earned credits and 4 received a pass grade.  
The students were presented with their certificates and were urged by the Prime Minister and the facilitators to put their knowledge to full use and not to let this be the end of their learning journey.
Bhankumarie Ramnarine, who topped the class, was awarded the President’s trophy, Shabana Blamacoon received the Agriculture Minister’s trophy for second place, and Naresh Changa got the Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture trophy for third place.  
The students, all of whom come from several East Bank Demerara villages, expressed their gratitude at the chance to be better qualified at a cost they can afford, and thanked the government for affording them the opportunity.   (GINA)