RESIDENTS of Moraikobai, a riverine community of Region 5, on Tuesday expressed gratitude to the PPP/C Government for the installation of a dish that allows residents to experience the Guyana Learning Channel, which is expected to boost education delivery.

Televisions were set up at the village office, the St Francis Nursery School and the Community Research Centre, where the students and teachers can access the learning channel at their leisure. Residents who have televisions can also access the channel once they have an antenna.
Education Minister, Priya Manickchand travelled to the community to be part of the event, and urged the students to make full use of the opportunity afforded to them. While the programme will be edifying to students, she said the channel is also dedicated to teachers, thus changing the way they educate their charges.
“These programmes are designed to not only teach students, but teachers as well….also, we want to make sure that children across the country get the same type of opportunities, and that is why you see specific services like this is being brought to your community,” said the minister.
The learning channel allows for all kinds of programmes that will help children’s learning process. These include: Mathematics from Grades 7 to 10, Chemistry, English Language, Physics, Biology, Social Studies, debates, spelling, discussions on various issues, examination tips, preparing School Based Assessments, sign language, cultural documentaries, and Guyanese history.
Minister Manickchand pointed out that this is an example of Government’s commitment to ensuring that children across the country have equal access to education, bringing equality to the services. This, she said has resulted in students doing extremely well at CXC and the National Grade Six Assessment from schools across the country, rather than just traditionally in Georgetown.
“You can do very well if you make use of the opportunities presented to you, and we will continue to bring those opportunities,” Minister Manickchand promised.
Amerindians have more opportunities than they ever did before in terms of education. Six years ago there was only one Amerindian doctor in the country, today there are many because of the numerous opportunities provided by government to ensure the indigenous people live a better life.
“When we bring these services to you, it is because we know that you are capable of helping to develop Guyana, and we ask that you utilise the services,” Minister Manickchand reiterated.
Meanwhile, Head of the Learning Channel, Dr Seeta Shah-Roath explained to the students what types of programmes will be shown and the timings, and advised them what would be most beneficial for the different age groups, especially Science, Mathematics and English Language.

PRAISES
Toshao of the village and Chairperson of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) Derrick John lauded Government for the continued support to the community, especially in the education sector.
John said he was very happy that the Ministry of Education took this bold step which will see the students doing better academically. He said the programmes broadcast on the channel are very educational, and will complement the work of the primary and secondary school teachers.
“I feel happy about it because this will serve my children very well,” Junior Smith, a resident said.
Miranda Callestro, a teacher of the St. Francis Nursery School, said she welcomes the initiative especially since it will benefit students in her class. Callestro added that reading is a challenge for some of the students, and the channel will help them in that regard once they apply themselves.
Meanwhile, Region 5 Chairman, Bindrabhan Bisnauth said he was very elated when he heard the community was receiving the learning channel, which shows the interest of the Government for the people in the remote areas. He said the project was in the making for a while, but due to unforeseen circumstances was put off.
Bisnauth is optimistic that the students will take the opportunity and elevate themselves through the educational programmes shown.
The Guyana Learning Channel, which is a non-commercial, apolitical educational television broadcast network, focuses only on education and was launched on April 1, 2011. There is no other television station in the entire Caribbean that broadcasts solely educational content.
It has about 200,000 viewers and is received in distant areas such as Mahdia, Region 8, Aishalton, Annai, and Lethem, Region 9 and Port Kaituma, Region 1.