— Diaspora urges gov’t

By Svetlana Marshall in New York

US STATE Senator Roxanne Persaud has said it is time the Government of Guyana removes the barriers impeding members of the diaspora from contributing to development of the local education system.

Senator Persaud was among US-based Guyanese professionals who engaged First Vice-President and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo in a panel discussion on development of Guyana, at the Woodbine Hall in Brooklyn, New York on Monday.

Senator Persaud, who also serves as a Registrar at the St Francis College, told the Prime Minister that while she was able to contribute a number of text books to the University of Guyana with external support, the process was not easy. Text books were sent to both the Turkeyen and Tain Campuses, but according to Persaud, it was a very difficult process to get the university to accept the books.

“We need the University of Guyana to be more receptive to doing things with us here. I know of many people who are willing to go to Guyana to participate at the university level, but I think there is a barrier that has to be broken before people really invest their time in doing so,” the US State Senator explained.

She said the barriers do not exist only at the level of the university, but within the education system as a whole.

“We need to break down these barriers so that people can understand that the educational system is receptive to us,” she emphasised.

Senator Persaud was backed by Jamaican Lecturer Dr Rupert Green, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Institute for hands-on Science, Engineering and Technology Inc. At the level of his organisation, the Jamaican, who has close ties to Guyana, has been

donating computers to schools and organisations in this country, but, again, the process has been a challenging one.

HAS TO PAY
“One thing I have encountered over the years (is that) when I send down the computers, I have to pay to send them down, I have to pay to clear them,” Dr Green disclosed

Pledging to contribute a number of computers either to a school or organisation in Guyana, Dr Green said that, with the use of technology, Guyanese students can benefit from the wealth of intellectual knowledge available in the US.

“One teacher in the US can teach 40 kids in Guyana. All you need is that virtual technology,” he posited.

Sandra Chapman, a representative from the Brooklyn Borough President’s Office, suggested the use of iPods in secondary schools in Guyana.

“Start a pilot project within our schools with iPods,” she posited, noting that the device is easy to carry and information on the various subject areas would be readily available. According to her, serious

consideration must be given to the digitisation of the education sector at the level of the schools.

Patricia Jordon-Longford, President of the Guyana Tri-State Alliance Inc, said that, through her organisation, Communication and Law students from the University of Guyana were brought to the US to acquire hands-on experience. However, this programme, which ran for several years, was stopped because of financial difficulties and the refusal of some students to return home.

“Before they come here, we would go to universities, and we would go to TV stations and media, and so we had a curriculum for our summer. but what I did find for the students that were here, they were amazed at the technology that was here, as opposed to what they were getting at the University of Guyana, because they learnt in theory but they were never exposed to the 21st century,” Jordon-Longford explained.

Despite the financial implications, she said the organisation is hoping to resuscitate the programme. But Jordon-Longford said she is very concerned for the children at the primary level.

ATROCIOUS
“My experience was that the reading level was atrocious, and I would like the Prime Minister to take that back.”

She had interacted with more than 75 children between the ages of six and 12 during a six-week education programme she was facilitating in Guyana.

Despite the loopholes within the local education system, Financial Controller of Mount Vernon, Maureen Walker, said members of the diaspora should channel their human, financial and material resources to the development of the local education system.

“We are a highly educated community. Guyanese are known to be extremely brilliant, and they are known to have many, many skills that are being used in other parts of the world. So I would like to see us take time to send books back home, to open up the education process back home; and the education process home is a wonderful thing,” said the former St Roses High School student.

She said it was the foundation that was laid in Guyana that is responsible for her current success in the US.

“I would like to see many of us go back home and, from time to time, do guest lectures either at the university or the high school, or at the secondary schools; because the children of Guyana can really, really use our expertise,” she added.

Professor Dr Shamir Ally, a visiting lecturer at three universities, including the University of Guyana, said more Guyanese living abroad with the experience, skills and qualifications should do guest lectures at the local university.

EVOLUTIONARY STAGE
Impressed with the work of new Education Minister Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, Dr. Ally said education in Guyana is at an evolutionary stage.

“The new minister is revolutionising the education curriculum, the degrees, the accreditation; and right now they are advertising for a new Vice-Chancellor. There is a high-powered team that will take the university to greater heights,” he posited.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo, in noting the concerns of the diaspora, asked them not to be discouraged. He reiterated that highly qualified professionals are needed to help boost the various sectors in Guyana, including the education sector; but he said, “It is no good giving the best lectures in a school when the child that goes to school doesn’t have shoes. So we have started a 3Bs programme (Boats, Bicycles and Buses).”

This programme is an initiative introduced by President David Granger, and it aims to ensure that children of Guyana are not denied a chance to be educated because of lack of transportation.

“Children in the riverine areas can’t go to school…. Give us a boat; children on the coast can’t get to school, can’t pay the fare for the mini-van, give us a bus,” the Prime Minister told those present, as he urged them to buy into this initiative.

The public discussion on Monday attracted attendance by US-based Guyanese from New York and several other states. The well-attended event covered a number of areas, including crime and security, health, education, aviation and tourism, among other areas.

(smarshall@guyanachronicle.com)