EDUCATION Minister Priya Manickchand addressed an audience at the Queen’s College auditorium following the rally for education on Friday last, emphasising the ministry’s desire to provide equal access to education for everyone in Guyana, hence this year’s theme for Education Month: “Transforming the nation through inclusive education.”

Minister Manickchand quoted Rabbi Howard Morrison: “Inclusion means equal access to resources and opportunities. It means having a voice in society.”
She said that in speaking about inclusive education in Guyana this year, “we are really speaking about the special needs students.”
According to her, the special needs students should not be left out. She related that the Education Ministry would be conducting consultations with the differently-abled to find out what can be done to improve their lives as students. Education Ministry personnel would be listening to the students, parents, teachers and other members of the community, and drafting policies in response to the needs articulated.
The minister related that, currently in Guyana, almost everyone in every area has equal access to primary education. She noted that Guyana has already achieved what many countries are still striving for, even as she informed the audience that Guyana is now on its way to achieving universal secondary education — something which President Donald Ramotar had promised would be achieved before the end of his first term as president.
According to the minister, none of this could “fall from the sky”, it takes planning and the will to see all students getting equal opportunities. She said it involves strategic planning to ensure equal access to resources and opportunities is delivered to the Guyanese people.
Manickchand said schools will be built in areas which do not yet have schools; and constructing schools in strategic locations will ensure that all of Guyana’s children receive a secondary education.
She related that there will always be something to be critical of in the education sector, because that sector involves 300,000 students, 10,000 teachers and 1,000 schools. Nevertheless, “if you truly love Guyana, you will join in making sure that the country moves forward”.
She related that education in Guyana today is at the best it has ever been in the country’s history.