THE days of Region One lagging in the education-delivery process will soon be an issue of the past, following collaboration between the communities in that area and the Ministry of Education.

On Monday, a team of Ministry of Education officials led by Chief Education Officer (CEO) Mr Marcel Hutson, engaged members of the Whitewater community in Region One (Barima-Waini) with a view to hearing and addressing their concerns. The meeting that was held at the Whitewater Community Centre yielded much information that will inform decisions at the ministry and regional levels.

In a release, the ministry said during the interface, CEO Hutson encouraged a more collaborative approach to addressing matters towards an improvement of education delivery in the community. “There is the need for a more hands-on approach to the supervision and management of the Whitewater Primary School,” Hutson pointed out.

A directive was given that a technical expert should as a matter of priority visit the Whitewater School to speedily address issues regarding electricity to enable students to benefit from the computers that are available. “Very soon, efforts will be afoot to have the annex gazetted and be made into an official school with a headteacher.”

Further, Assistant Chief Education Officer (Technical) Mr Patrick Onwuzirike, informed the gathering that plans are in train to introduce the Secondary Competency Certificate Programmes (SCCP) at the Wauna Primary top school.

This is part of efforts to have the children leave the school with a technical certificate that affords them the opportunity for meaningful employment in Guyana or anywhere in the Caribbean and to also pursue further education.

“We want to encourage parents to consider the fact that while you might not have major qualifications, your community must make sure that as parents you should demand a certain level of excellence from the school system and do your part as a key stakeholder,” CEO Hutson told those gathered.

Further, he said, “We all have the same brains and we all need to empower each other to build the community and safeguard the resources and facilities. The idea of us coming here was to not just see problems, but to fashion workable solutions. The engagement was also to assure residents that education could be delivered in the best possible way.” “ I must applaud the government for taking the bold step to have an entire team here…it is historical.

This move shows that the Government of Guyana (GoG) has the best interest of all the peoples of Guyana — including us in the hinterland — at heart…to me this is proof that Guyana is moving forward,” said Mr Errol Lucian, one participant of the town hall meeting held in the Whitewater Multi-Purpose Hall.

While noting the need for textbooks, participants posited that the biggest problem is the need for parents to work with the teachers to move the nation forward through education. The importance of parents working with the teachers was underscored as well. Further, the CEO noted that the Regional Education Officer Mr Nigel Richards has been mandated to prepare a list of the needed textbooks, so that these shortages can be addressed in two weeks time.

To rousing applause, CEO Hutson promised that as long as they are available the necessary textbooks will soon be delivered to the community for the school. Plans are afoot for the Parent Teachers Association Coordinator Nadia Hollingsworth and other education officials to conduct town hall meetings to engage with parents.

The issues include limited textbooks, addressing the fixing of the solar power panel to get electricity for full use of the computers. Other findings and recommendations with timelines are to be compiled for necessary action.

A feedback meeting was also held with teachers of Whitewater Primary School and a request from a parent was for the establishment of a community library for which Ms Jennifer Cumberbatch, the Director of NCERD, promised some assistance through a donation of books by month-end.

The high-level team of MoE officials currently visiting the hinterland community is being led by CEO Mr Marcel Hutson and comprises three Assistant Chief Education Officers, Mr Owen Pollard, Ms Carol Benn and Mr Patrick Onwuzirike from the primary, secondary and technical divisions of the MoE.

Also on the team is Senior Welfare Officer Mr Vickram Mohabir, along with Parent Teachers Association Coordinator Ms Nadia Hollingsworth. There is also a representative from the Monitoring, Evaluation Technical Support Unit Mr Nasrullah Khan, Civil Engineer Shaunette Braithwaite of the MoE Buildings Unit and two Technical Facilitators of the CEO, Ms Franseca Vieira and Ms Simone Wills.