A TOTAL of 123 students graduated from the New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI) on November 21, during its 46th Convocation and Prize Giving Ceremony.

The graduates are now skilled in various 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 masonry and carpentry. Others secured certificates in plumbing, and diplomas in administrative principles and practices, commerce, and computer science.

British High Commissioner to Guyana, Mr. Greg Quinn, in his feature address, urged the students to apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired in a manner that will make them ambassadors for their alma mater. Valedictorian Bibi Ali described her two years spent at NATI as challenging yet inspiring. She acknowledged the guidance and support of her parents, the administrative staff and friends throughout her studies.

Principal Maxine Thompson, in her report on the school disclosed that 123 students wrote the Guyana Technical Education Examination. The institution recorded a 71 per cent success pass rate, with 27 per cent being referred and two per cent being unsuccessful. The candidates’ overall performance of 71 per cent in 2018 is the same as when compared to 2017.

While overall performance remains the same, it should be noted that the students’ performance in the Science Department has improved from zero in 2017 to one hundred per cent in 2018, it was revealed. The Building Department yielded a 64 per cent success rate in 2018 which is a 17 per cent increase in performance when compared to 2017. The Engineering Department achieved 94 per cent success this year, a two per cent less than in 2017. The Business Department achieved 26 per cent success in 2018. This is a 50 per cent decrease in performance when compared to 2017’s performance.

Principal Thompson further highlighted that the institution recently signed an agreement thus becoming a member of the Higher Education Consortium on Engineering and Mining (HECEM). The consortium, she said, will foster and promote academic collaboration to explore and develop new curricula and joint programmes, to address the national development needs in Engineering and the Oil and Gas sector in preparation for oil production in 2020. The graduation programme was also enlivened with cultural presentations performed by current students. (DPI)