IN order for universal secondary education to become a reality in Guyana, the issue of quality educators and equity in the school systems must be addressed primarily, says Chief Education Officer, Olato Sam.He was delivering remarks Thursday at the Guyana Improving Teacher Education Project (GITEP) ceremony for the handing over of books and equipment worth over $12M to the Cyril Potter

College of Education (CPCE) and the University of Guyana (UG).
Guyana has excelled significantly, he said, in its access to nursery education and this has now paved the way for universal secondary education in Guyana.
Therefore to reach such universal heights the issue of quality teachers in schools has to be fully addressed as well as equity in schools.
“We need to spend a lot more time to ensure that the children who are now accessing education can receive the quality of education they deserve,” said the Chief Education Officer.
These issues are significantly drawing the Ministry’s attention and have topped its priority list. Sam also referred to the assistance that can be garnered from the E-Governance project once it is fully established.
Apart from its other obligations, the project aims to set up an ‘E-library’ which would allow for access to textbooks and other teaching aids that can be used by students and schools, thereby lowering cost.
Poor families who cannot pay for the internet would be hooked up at community centres in various areas, such as in the hinterland. This will ideally bridge the equity gap between hinterland students and those from the coastland.
Education Minister, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine said recently that one of the principal goals of the new Administration is to significantly build equity within the public education sector by bridging the gap between hinterland students and those from the coastland.
This, he said, could be done once there are more equitable and relevant systems of education delivery, even as schools from the regions focus on their curricula.
The CEO also noted that GITEP has always lifted the standard of education, especially at CPCE and UG. He added that GITEP has always focused on bolstering the quality of instruction that teachers receive at CPCE but the institution has had a boost over the last five years since GITEP’s arrival.