–First Lady tells this year’s AEA graduates

FIRST Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger has urged the Adult Education Association (AEA) to consider offering an introductory course in the use of computers and the Internet if they haven’t done so already.
She made the call last Friday while delivering the feature address at the association’s Graduation and Awards Ceremony, held at the Umana Yana on upper High Street, Kingston.
She said that seeing that over 70% of the jobs in the future will require some knowledge of computer science, it would serve the organisation well to offer a few courses in that discipline, in addition to the mainstream ones, so that aspiring AEA graduates are able to take up those offers when they become available.
She made the point, too, that persons who would have pursued courses in the area of Women’s Outreach Entrepreneurial Skills will need to know their way around the computer and the Internet if they are to keep track of their clients, orders or bills and receipts.
Held under the theme, “Celebrating 60 years of success: Providing second-chance opportunities to Guyanese”, the event, which also celebrated the organisation’s 60th anniversary, saw 132 men and women graduate with certificates of competence from seven disciplines, namely: Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence (CCSLC); Women’s Outreach Entrepreneurial Skills Courses; Child Care Management; Elementary Cake and Pastry Making; Advanced Cake and Pastry Making; Elementary Food Preparation and Service; and Quick Breads and Yeast Dough Making.

IMPORTANT FIRST STEP
Said the First Lady to the graduates:
“As you celebrate your achievements today, I hope that you will recognise that this is but the first step towards your education and empowerment, and that you will need to add to, and upgrade your skills, so that you can survive and thrive in whatever field of work you choose.”
As she would later observe, the AEA, from its inception, has striven to fulfill its mandate, which is:
* Providing adult education in all its forms;
* Liaising with, and coordinating the activities of all the bodies involved in Adult Education at all levels and in all forms;
* Assisting, if necessary, its member organisations;
* Facilitating the provision of adult education services in communities where these do not exist;
* Contributing to the eradication of adult illiteracy, and helping adults to develop their basic education; improve their technical or professional skills; and provide them with opportunities for the full development of their personalities.
Recalling that the President has always advocated that Guyana must become an education-oriented nation if its people are to succeed and be relevant in today’s dynamic and ever-changing world, Mrs Granger declared:
“Education must be a lifelong process, since I am sure you are well aware of all the changes that have taken place within your own lifetime, particularly in Information and Communication Technology.”
She went on to say that by signing up and staying the course in their various fields of endeavour, the graduates have proven several things, namely:
“Their thirst for knowledge; that they recognise the benefits of knowledge; that they have a vision for their future; and that they have the ability and discipline to achieve what they set out to do.”
In commending them all for the bold step they have taken, Mrs Granger said:
“Be proud of your achievement. You grasped the second-chance opportunity offered by AEA, stayed the course, and are reaping your reward today. I wish you much success in whatever field you choose.”

LONG-SERVICE AWARDS
Following the Graduation Ceremony, there was also an Awards Ceremony at which 13 active staff members who have served the AEA ten years and more were recognised.
Those persons were: Executive Director, Ms Patricia David; Ms Cheryl Carter; Ms Lucinda Tracey; Ms Roxanne Patterson; Ms Myrna Jupiter; Ms Lavern Adonis; Mr Wilfred J. Gomes; Mr Ignatius Phillips; Ms Darelina Hill; Ms Margaret Suffrein; Ms Vera Smith; Ms Noreen Persaud and Ms Eunice Williams.
Ms David, in presenting her report, traced the history of the organisation, which was formed in April 1957 by a group of men who shared a common interest in adult education. Those persons were: Mr. John Gale, a British Council Representative; Bishop Lester Guilly of the Roman Catholic Church; Mr. Vincent McAlmond of the British Guiana Trades Union Council; Sir Frank McDavid, Colonial Treasurer; Mr. Adolph Thompson, Resident Tutor of the University College of the West Indies; and Mr. Newton Profitt, Educationist, who at a later date functioned in the capacity of Executive Director, and was at one point the sole founder member residing here after the others had either migrated or died.
For its contribution to the development of the nation, the AEA was in 1998 awarded the Medal of Service (MS).