Everyone must play part in transforming, modernising education
THOUSANDS turned out to march, from Independence Park, on Middle Street to Queen’s College on Camp Road, to mark the official start of ‘Education Month’ yesterday.
The month long observance countrywide, under the theme ‘Transforming Guyana through science and technology’, will continue through October 5. Among those participating in the procession were from the Education Ministry – Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE), the National Library and several others in the  field.
Education Minister Shaik Baksh, who addressed the gathering in the QC auditorium, said the rally was executed with the aim of encouraging the entire nation to come on board with educators to bring about a transformation in the sector.
“Education is something that can change the lives of families and the country in the whole,” he pointed out.
Mr. Baksh said, over the years, Guyana has seen improvements in this sector by leaps and bounds and it was made evident in the Secondary Schools’ Entrance Examination and the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) examination, just two of the many success stories for this year.
“We are moving to modernise Guyana and teachers, Parent Teachers Associations, School Boards and parents have already been playing a significant role in the development of education in Guyana,” he observed.
Baksh said the CPCE and the University of Guyana (UG) both have a pivotal role to play in reshaping the educational landscape of the nation.
“All of our students must and will be given the right to the best and highest quality of education. You are the leaders of tomorrow. This investment is second to none in the world,” he insisted.
Baksh said the Government has a strong vision for education standards in Guyana and these will be accomplished by all means.
He said the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has also been working along with the Education Ministry to ensure that school dropouts are lowered.
“We have to modernise Guyana and promote a country full of tolerance, peace and harmony and this is only possible with the education sector and this will be done,” the Minister reiterated.
He said the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the Caribbean Development Bank and UNICEF have played significant parts in putting Guyana’s education amongst the progressive countries of the world.
“Through this pattern, we will make it happen. We will work continuously to empower youths throughout Guyana,” he emphasised.
Also speaking at the forum, Chief Education Officer Olato Sam said that the Ministry has been looking forward to this day when Guyana would reaffirm, to the nation, that education is on the go.

Obviously clear
“From the support that we have received so far, we know where to go and the message is obviously clear, we need to go together as one people for education in Guyana,” he advised.
Sam said this drive is all about partnerships and every individual has a part to play in bringing about this transformation.
He said every person needs to recognise that whatever is said and done, their inputs are needed to accomplish a task.
“It is that social worker who spends the extra time and support to ensure that the child makes it in school, it’s that hard working teacher who needs our support everyday,” Sam maintained.
He said persons need to recommit themselves to the degree where settling for less would not be accepted and nothing less than success should be accepted.
“We have people who are bubbling with new ideas to bring about this transformation and, when we go places, people commend the works that have been executed so far,” Sam said.
He appealed to his audience: “Don’t give up. We will make it work. We have clearly defied the negative as it related to the improvement in the education sector. I firmly believe that, at the end of the day, we can and we must succeed.”
The Education Ministry’s plans for the rest of the month include the inauguration of book clubs and distribution of books to children, a garden competition, national spelling bee and GUYAID essay competitions, Science and Technology Fair, distribution of certificates,a steelband exhibition and a national award ceremony.