The resources and focus currently being placed on improving education standards in the hinterland communities have been unprecedented. Under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration over the last two decades every aspect of education in the hinterland communities have seen improvement as scores of dormitories have been built or refurbished, many new schools have been built or repaired, scholarships both locally and foreign have been made available for students to pursue higher education, provision of school uniforms and school feeding have been expanded and intensified, ICT training programmes have started and teacher training programmes expanded resulting in more qualified teachers being present in hinterland schools.
This emphasis is in consonance with the goal of the government to provide equitable access to education and quality education for all. Of course this will not happen overnight because there are many hurdles to overcome including logistics and having adequate financial and human resources. However, the foundation is being laid to achieve this goal and already there has been a narrowing of the gap in education delivery between coastal and hinterland schools.
The transformation of education delivery and standards in the hinterland is even more remarkable when one considers what existed prior to 1992. During the nearly three-decade long period of dictatorial rule every aspect of the hinterland was neglected, needless to say education also.
The indigenous people virtually starved as food was extremely scarce, schools and other education facilities were rundown; there were hardly qualified teachers in the schools; there were no school feeding and uniform programmes. And because of the high level of poverty in the hinterland communities large numbers of children were deprived of schooling as parents could not have afforded to do so. At the same time many children were forced to help their parents on their farms or in whatever means of livelihood they pursued.
Against this backdrop it is surprising to hear that the Opposition Leader is calling for an investigation into the functioning of hinterland secondary schools. It is a case of Rip Van Winkle because when under the People’s National Congress government not only the education system was neglected but every aspect of life in the hinterland. Where was this gentleman then? Was he living abroad? Or was it a case because of the party in government at the time it was not wrong to neglect our indigenous people?
Therefore Education Minister Ms. Priya Manickchand was right when in response to the Opposition Leader she explained that the Chief Education Officer is presently leading a team of officials from the Education Ministry, and they are currently at the dormitory of the St. Ignatius School in Region 9 (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) to deliver more educational materials to students there, and to examine ways in which they can improve the delivery of education.
This visit to Region 9 comes one week after the Chief Education Officer visited the Santa Rosa Secondary School in Region 1 (Barima/Waini) to conduct a similar exercise, and there are plans to visit the dorm school at Paramakatoi next week, the minister emphasised.
“While Mr. Granger’s interest may be late, and even to a reasonable person may appear to be motivated by political opportunism, his interest is encouraged. I would urge, though, that some balance and reality be attached to statements made about our children, and that we desist from politicking with our young and innocent student population,” Ms. Manickchand said.
But the opposition with hardly anything to criticise have to invent and manufacture issues with the intention of making the government look bad because that is how they see their role, and perhaps as their only one.