MINISTER within the Ministry of Education Nicolette Henry has urged the New Amsterdam Technical Institute 2015 graduating class to “continue to recognise the true value of knowledge”.She issued the charge at the school’s 43rd convocation last Thursday. Some 143 students graduated in various skills areas including agricultural machinery, electrical installation, internal combustion engines, mechanical fitting, metal machining, motor vehicle electrical systems, motor vehicle work, radio and electronics servicing, welding, bricklaying and concreting and carpentry.
Others secured certificates in plumbing and diplomas in administrative principles and practices, commerce, and computer science.
“I want to ask of you to invest your time and energy to expand your knowledge base and intellectual capitals… do not be afraid to take risks…. No nation can develop without vocational and technical education,” she said.
Meanwhile, in her report, acting Principal of the school Ms Maxine Thompson disclosed that 170 students wrote the Guyana Technical Education Examination and the institution achieved an 85 per cent success, with  22 students or  13 per cent  being referred , and  four  students or  2 per cent being  unsuccessful.
The results reflect a 23 per cent overall improvement in performance for the year in review.
However, the Principal noted that the building department continues to perform exceedingly well, as they amassed an overall pass rate of 94 per cent which is a five per cent increase, when compared with the 2014 analysis.
The Engineer Department yielded an 84 per cent success rate, representing an per cent improvement in performance, while the Business Department gained a 78 per cent pass rate, which is a remarkable improvement, compared to the 2014 performance of 38 per cent.
Generally, of the 15 per cent of candidates who failed this year’s examination, seven per cent were from the Engineering Department, 39 per cent from the Business Department, and four per cent from the Building Department.
There was a two per cent improvement in the Engineering Department, while in the Building Department there was an 18 per cent reduction in the failure rate.
Calculus and science proved to be the problematic areas for candidates in the Engineering and Building Departments.
Mathematics, programming, human relations and management and economics posed difficulties for candidates in the Business Department.

Two students, Dominic Mingo and Mark Cyril, received national awards for their outstanding performance. Mingo was adjudged the most outstanding student in computer science and Cyril, the New Amsterdam Technical Institute’s valedictorian was adjudged the most outstanding student in the Craft Certificate in Electrical Installation.
Valedictorian Cyril, who previously attended the JC Chandisingh Secondary School, had secured eleven subjects at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.
Describing his tenure at the New Amsterdam Technical Institute, he said “It was worth it,” especially after learning that he had received a distinction and was the National Awardee in his field of study.
Along with the charge to the 2015 graduates which was delivered by President of the St. Francis Community Developers, Mr Alex Foster, the programme was enlivened with cultural presentations by current students. Also attending the three-hour ceremony was General Manager of the Guyana National Newspaper Limited, Mr Michael Gordon.