THE Guyana Society for the Blind (GSB) has just recently had its second batch of visually impaired students sit the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations and is currently recruiting its third batch of students to sit the 2016 exams. Project Coordinator of the society, Ganesh Singh, told this publication that the society is fully prepared to work with the third batch to create more history for the organisation. The society has also been hosting free computer classes for those visually impaired persons who are not computer literate.
Seven subject areas are being offered thus far: Social Studies, Principles of Business, Office Administration, English Language, Human and Social Biology, Caribbean History and Religious Education. Mathematics however, will come in the near future once the resources become available, Singh disclosed. Additionally, the society will be commencing its braille classes, come August.
Singh has expressed his expectations about the second batch, noting that the society has high expectations of them and are anxiously awaiting the results which are expected in August.
This projectwas long nurtured before it was implemented and is a spin-off of another project that sought to teach visually impaired persons how to use computers.
The Blind Society has been collaborating with the One Laptop Per Family Project (OLPF) in order to provide computers for the students, as well as the implementation of the JAWS software which serves as a computer instructor for visually impaired learners.
Moreover, the society was fortunate to benefit from assistance by the Basic Needs Trust Fund, which funded rehabilitation of the society’s building and also provided better furniture to accommodate members as well as the CSEC students.
However, Singh recently noted that he hopes the new Minister of Education will continue to support the society in its future endeavours.
Last year, Rosemary Ramitt emerged as the top student of the first batch, securing five grade ones along with Odessa Harper, who came second in securing five grade two passes at the CSEC examinations.