– First Lady urges Region Three residents

First Lady Sandra Granger has urged Region Three residents to prepare for new jobs in the area of technology. The First Lady was, at the time, addressing awardees at that region’s award ceremony held at the Aracari Resort.

Mrs. Granger noted that in the future, 60 per cent of jobs globally will be executed by robots and 90 per cent of the jobs done by women, will become obsolete.

“We see artificial intelligence being used in [the manufacturing sector], in the fields of agriculture and aviation, medicine and merchandising, to name a few… I urge you to think beyond today and imagine where you will want to be a few years down the road… focus on those skills that will help you secure employment after you leave school,” the First Lady stressed.

Some 100 students were awarded by the regional administration for their outstanding performance in all national examinations. As such, the First Lady took the opportunity to encourage the awardees to prepare themselves for the new technological era by learning new skills so as to remain relevant in a modern workforce.

She congratulated the Regional Education Department for recognising and rewarding the high performance of the students and teachers.

Teachers who performed exceptionally well at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE), teachers with more than 27 years of unbroken service, retirees and other individuals who contributed to the development of education in Region Three were also awarded.

Awards were also issued to the most improved school in the region and organisations that contributed to the advancement of the education system in the region.

Regional Information Officer Ganesh Mahipaul, who spoke on behalf of the Regional Executive Officer Dennis Jaikaran, said it is the region’s intention to host the awards annually.

Meanwhile, the West Demerara Secondary School received the most awards in the secondary schools’ category. Nine of 10 awards were won by the school for its performance at the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) examinations.

This year, the school secured a 90 per cent pass rate with 100 per cent pass rate in English and over 90 per cent in mathematics – an achievement that last happened some 53 years ago.

Headteacher of the school, Harrynarine said among other things, a rounded curriculum aided in the school’s success at this year’s CSEC examinations. In that regard, he also applauded the First Lady’s involvement with the school in the area of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and robotics.

This year, the school’s top student, Setram Mohamed secured 15 passes at the examination. Mohamed, who has experienced several financial challenges in preparation for the examinations, expressed much gratitude to his mother whom, he said,has supported him over the years despite the many challenges.

The aspiring geologist acknowledged the First Lady’s advice and vows to acquire skills that will prepare him for a bright future in the area of technology.

The Guyana Police Force’s ‘D’ Division was also awarded for its contribution to the region.