The Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Commonwealth Education Trust, yesterday, launched their Caribbean Poetry Project and three-day workshop.

In delivering the feature address at the launch yesterday at the Guyana International Conference Centre at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown,  Minister of Education Priya Manickchand noted that if Guyanese were to do better in any subject, English would be that subject, seeing that is what is being spoken.
She further stated that this three-day workshop will help the participants to better understand poetry and the English language as a whole.
She highlighted that many persons would ask what poetry is, while many would say it’s not interesting; however, it is of vital importance that everyone be able to understand poetry before it can be appreciated.
She said that “poetry and a challenge in the English language are real issues we face in the street in today’s society.”
Minister Manickchand highlighted that the pass rate for the English language across the Caribbean is 47 percent, which goes to show it is a Regional problem.
She indicated that many persons are not aware of this, but it is her belief that if teachers can wake up to this fact, and put a little more effort into their work, it will show how interesting English as a subject can be.
She is of the opinion that students in the Caribbean, particularly in Guyana can pull through with the English language.
She emphasised that schools need to do better in this subject, noting that she has found that schools that include literature (English B) in their curriculum tend to do well in English. She said that it would be something that would lead to better English grades.
She said that she is welcoming this workshop as it will assist students in their  poetry and English B skills.
Manickchand said it is very important that teachers listen and learn as to how to make themselves better educators.
She noted that the ministry will always be ready to provide resources but it is up to the teachers to determine what “Guyana’s tomorrow” will look like.
She urged that educators should “Be the teacher you would want your children to be taught by.”
Concluding, she lauded the Assistant Chief Education Officer MS Doodmattie Singh who has helped tremendously in putting together the three-day workshop.
This project entails the support of the University of the West Indies, the CXC Caribbean Poetry Project and the University of Cambridge.