MINISTER of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr. Ganga Persaud, yesterday, officially commissioned the $11M refurbished Glasgow Nursery School, at Lot 778 Glasgow Housing Scheme, East Bank Berbice.

Now located in the compound of the Glasgow Playfield and Pavilion, it was erected there following several debates and consultations.
The school was first established on April 1, 1977 beneath a house in the neighbouring Edinburgh Village and later moved to a church building along the Glasgow Public Road.
Refurbishing of the present structure started in 2012 and teachers and students were able to occupy it on March 23, this year.
“This is a continuous demonstration of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (Government)’s commitment to education and the faith we have in the sector,” Persaud told the gathering.
He also lauded the efforts of those who supported the initiative of relocating the institution to a permanent site.
“On behalf of the PPP/Civic Government, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development and the Regional Democratic Council (Region 6-East Berbice /Corentyne), a profound thanks to all stakeholders and those supporters of this new facility, which will contribute to better learning and moulding of the children of this nation,” Persaud said.
The minister urged parents to acknowledge the efforts that are being made to assist their children in having access to better learning facilities, but, maintained that it is their responsibility to cooperate with teachers to ensure the success of their offsprings.

Don’t expect

“These kids belong to you and don’t expect the teachers to guide them in one way while you are guiding them in another path. The only way you can understand how teachers are moulding them is to participate in school programmes, such as class meetings and even mingle with your children in a manner that would not disrupt the curriculum,” he advised.
Meanwhile, Chairman of Region 6, Mr. Permaul Armogan, in his remarks, highlighted the constraints that the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) faced before the rehabilitated site could have become a reality.
“This is yet another indication of our Government’s commitment to ensuring that we make our children as comfortable as possible in (public) schools,” he pointed out.
Armogan also challenged the community to pay close attention to the maintenance of the facility and encouraged the stakeholders to become guardians of it.
“Make sure that you care the building because, even though the Region (RDC) didn’t have enough funds, at one time, to complete the building, we managed to get an additional $7M from the Ministry of Education to finish all works,” he stated.
Armogan said, already they have had reports, from the headteacher that, whenever other persons (outsiders) use the playfield, there is a tendency for some of them to deface the building.
“We the RDC are not going to take it lightly,” he warned.
The function saw year two pupils singing songs, while the symbolic cutting of the ribbon and unveiling of the plaque was done by Persaud and Regional Education Officer, Ms. Volaika Jaikishun.
In attendance, as well, were Regional Vice-chairman, Mr. Bhupaul Jhagroo and Regional Executive Officer, Mr. Paul Ramrattan, who officially presented the keys to the building to Jaikishun.
She, in turn, handed them over to the administration of the school.

(By Michael Khan)