– ‘We have matched our vision to the allocations in the sector’, says Minister Manickchand
GUYANA’s education sector, taking the lion’s share of the 2014 Budget ($32.3 billion), has consistently made advances, but there is much more to do, according to subject Minister, Priya Manickchand.In the National Assembly, yesterday, she noted that focus on Guyana’s children not only makes them better than their parents were and improves their lives, but prepares them to take the reins of leadership in the country.

QUOTE: “If the Opposition leaders don’t work with us, we will work with their constituents, as we have been doing anyway” – Minister Manickchand

She made it clear that anything that takes away from this is like robbing Guyana’s youths of a better life, robbing their families of a better life, and goes against the promises made to them by the current Administration, as well as the Opposition.
She stressed that there is no doubt that there has been a transformation of the local education sector, transformations that are clearly evident by the achievement of universal primary education, the moves being made to reach universal secondary education, and the outstanding and record-breaking performances of Guyanese students compared to other countries in the Caribbean Region, among others.
The Education Minister stated that in 1991 the pass rate at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams was 21 per cent and it has been increased over the last two decades to 29 per cent in 1995, 46 per cent in 2000, 60 per cent in 2005 and 66 per cent in 2010.
She added that out of eight regional awards given by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), Guyana brought home five last year, including best overall student, an award Guyana has been bringing back since 2006.
“We’re going for the others,” the Minister stressed.
Manickchand underscored the fact that the ruling party’s ideology, as it relates to the transformational impact of education, is evidenced in its policies.
“We have matched our vision to the allocations in the sector…with investments come growth,” she declared.
VALUE FOR MONEY
Opposition APNU Chief Whip and Shadow Education Minister, Amna Ally, had a contrary view of the moves in the education sector and called the allocations a “spend and hope” approach.
According to her, yesterday, the budget is a highly politicised document and it is a “repair and maintenance schedule”, not a developmental plan, nor is it something to solve problems of masses.
Ally stated that while the Government boasts that Budget 2014 is the largest budget ever, the “greatest worry” is that despite the larger input, Guyana is not getting value for money and the impacts of the massive investments in the education sector is still to be seen.
“We hope the Government can get serious,” she said.
The front-bencher with A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) added that while some of the interventions, such as the move to ensure Guyana attains universal secondary education, are laudable, there must be value for money.
She said the current Administration must recognise the worth of the Guyanese youth and step up.
The Shadow Education Minister bemoaned the annual $10,000 education grant, noting its inadequacy.
Ally made it clear that talk of eight consecutive years of growth will not “hoodwink” the Guyanese people, many of whom are in a “depressing” situation.
She called for interventions that are sustainable to ensure real improvement of the lives of the Guyanese people.
The APNU MP reiterated her call for value for money and appealed for careful management and monitoring of interventions – all geared to delivered better services and quality education to all Guyanese children, rather than some.
“We want our nation’s children to have a better life, hence this Government must utilise the requisite resources, human and material, to let the people enjoy a better life,” Ally said.
REALISING OUR VISION
In response, Minister Manickchand said the education sector, through careful planning and management, is moving to realise its vision.
According to her, the Opposition’s reference to impact is a seemingly “skewed” definition of the word, adding that the successes of the sector seem to be lost.
“We will get there (where we need to be) because we can…we will plan for it, we will strategise for it and we will fund it,” Manickchand said.
She explained that her Ministry’s strategic plan, which will be released soon, will further realise the current Administration’s vision for the sector.
Among the initiatives to be undertaken on the five-year plan are: long-awaited changes to the Education Act, last amended in 1976; new regulations on national accreditation council; new interactive website, to benefit school children; engagements with stakeholders; more focus on children with special education needs; completion of Guyana’s own nursery reader (Roraima Readers); completion of Guyana’s primary readers (Atlantic Readers); addressing furniture needs; more resources for students; increased teacher training; advances at the University of Guyana (UG), including curricula reform and the establishment of a Centre of Excellence; and a hinterland education improvement programme, among others.
Manickchand added that consultations are frequently done and will continue to be done to ensure the delivery of education responds to real needs of the Guyanese people.
As to the advance of the sector and, by extension, Guyana, the Minister said, “We will do it alone if we have to, as we have been doing, but we would appreciate the support, because their (Opposition) supporters expect their representation for the children of those constituents.”
She made it clear that the MPs in the Opposition benches have much to offer, but must understand that in making their contribution, it is a contribution to the Government’s vision for the sector, not as the Government to determine that vision.
“If the Opposition leaders don’t work with us, we will work with their constituents, as we have been doing anyway,” Manickchand said.
The Minister maintained that the contention that the Budget has nothing to offer reflects a clear misinterpretation and lack of understanding of the 2014 Estimates.
It should be noted that the Opposition seats were vacant during Minister Manickchand’s presentation yesterday as the Opposition members walked out of the House, protesting her refusal to issue an apology to former APNU MP, Jaipaul Sharma. The only Opposition member who stayed to listen to Minister Manickchand’s presentation was Ms Ally.
By Vanessa Narine