MINISTER of Education, Ms. Priya Manickchand, commissioned the Ministry’s Visually Impaired Resource Unit, at Lot 144 Albert Street, Alberttown, Georgetown, yesterday. 

She said the facility will serve as a more conducive and spacious place of learning of the special needs group, and other speakers at the function concurred.
At the opening ceremony, the minister thanked all parties involved in making the Unit a reality, noting that the achievement is because of the ‘I Can’ attitude.
Manickchand reminded all in attendance that it is universally accepted that education is the one sure way of changing, for the better, circumstances of families, individuals, communities and nations.
She reaffirmed that: “If we, the Government are to take Guyana to better places, it is the understanding that substantial investments should be made in the sector, more particularly on special education.”
The Education Minister further explained and outlined some of the aspects of a five-year plan for the sector; with intentions of making public what it entails for special education and those who serve in administering and delivering it across Guyana.
She said priority, therefore, would be given to the creation of a national database of persons living with disabilities, career path of teachers working in the system and more consultations to better address the issues of disabled persons and their education needs
Principal Education Officer (Georgetown), Mr. Baydewan Rambarran emphasised that in countries around the globe, services outside the general education systems have been a growing trend.

IMPORTANT TIME
He said this Unit comes at a very important time, since the practice of engaging in special education, special needs and special skills in teaching is the way forward.
Rambarran added that planned and systematic monitoring and arrangement of teaching packages, adopted equipment and materials used, among other interventions, are vital in the delivery of special education and schooling.
Speaking at the function, too, was the first totally blind student that had previously benefited from the unit, Ms. Julie Lewis, who is presently employed at the National Communications Network (NCN) in a senior position.
She recalled the hurdles she had to overcome since the facilities available at the time were not sufficient.
Lewis said, even though they had nothing, she went on to write her Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) and General Certificate of Education (GCE) ‘A’ levels examinations and then entered the University of Guyana (UG).
“I graduated with a degree and became the first totally blind person to do so,” Lewis disclosed, congratulating the Education Ministry on its vision for the visually impaired and urged parents and guardians to take heed of this opportunity and make use of it.
Education for the blind was part of the programme at the David Rose School for the Handicapped in the 1970s and the Visually Impaired Unit officially opened at the St. Rose’s High School complex on November 10, 1980.
Written By Rebecca Ganesh-Ally