IT is with great joy that I pen this letter. This is because the government is about to spend some $82M to furnish schools here in Guyana. This shows a great commitment and in a key area too. Nation building is not just about the immediate and the visible. It also means investment, and any input into education is a most worthy and noble move. I am really fanatical about education, as it (education) remains the ‘poor man’s bread and salvation.’ According to Education Minister, Shaik Baksh, the objective is to ensure that all schools be fully equipped with adequate furniture in the new academic term, which begins September 5. The good Minister (probably remembering his many uncomfortable ‘sitting’ days in uncomfortable classrooms) explained that the ‘furnishing’ venture became a possibility, when the Education Ministry was able to obtain an additional $ 82 million, to help in the acquisition of more and necessary furniture. Currently, the ministry is in the process of building the additional furniture for schools, and in a decentralized manner, as this will allow for  better expediting of the project. The furnishing of the schools is being done simultaneously with a ‘cleaning out’ of all school compounds within the Georgetown district.
So far, Government has spent in excess of $179 million, in repairing and maintaining some 49 schools in the Georgetown area. The complete overhauling is part of the central education ministry’s work programme, which aims at ensuring that these buildings will be in a good state, when school reopens in September. Under the multi- million- dollar programme, work is being carried out on 23 secondary schools, 14 primary schools and 12 nursery schools. The work is massive and intense, and it proves that the Guyana Government is really committed to improving and expanding the education sector.
As a most pertinent footnote, it was also quite encouraging to learn that the construction of the  Leonora Technical Institute would be completed in about a few weeks time; and the Mahaicony Technical Institute is expected to be up and ready by the end of September. If all goes well, then both institutes will be formally opened in October. So on one hand, Guyanese are being invested in at the primary and secondary school levels, and also at the tertiary level, where many students opt for careers and vocations along technical lines.
This broad outlook is very important as I think of President Jagdeo and Minister Robert Persaud’s challenge to Guyanese, to realize that the world is rapidly changing, and the link between the ‘academic’ and the ‘traditional’ is sometimes the ‘technical.’ This fact was succinctly brought out at the recent ‘Agri Drive’ and ‘Grow More Food’ launch. In fact, even at the secondary level, the technical is being introduced. So I am really compelled to heap kudos on the Ministry of Education. However, I do have a major concern.
In Guyana, education is free all the way through to the secondary level. However, this largesse from Government is being taken for granted, too many times and by too many people. Quite a few times, the Education Ministry, the Guyana Police Force and concerned parents have ventured into curbing truancy. It stands to reason that if time, money, effort and personnel would be poured into education, then there must be a system that allows for maximum benefits to redound. This means that ‘school-age’ children must be compelled to be in school, taking full advantage of what is being offered. Many of them would not become academics, but they would not have to be ‘subservient dependants.’ Guyana is offering opportunities to all the children, and at the tender age of maybe ‘up to 17,’ these children must never have a ‘choice’ in this important area of education. As they enter the adult world of work and responsibility, I am sure they will one day realize that ‘schooling’ was made mandatory for them for their own good.’ I ask that the relevant stakeholders ensure that the investments be maximized.