PRESIDENT David Granger has repeatedly emphasised that one of the most important priorities of the administration is improving access to a high quality of education to all Guyanese equitably. The President has said that education is the great equaliser. In the words of His Excellency, “One of the reasons there is so much poverty is because there is so much inequality. Once the child of a rich man and the child of a poor man have the same education, they have the chance to be equal and then they have a better opportunity at employment and making sure that you have a good life.”

Admirably, since taking office in 2015, the administration has taken innovative action to realise the president’s vision of equal access to quality educational opportunities. Further, the government has rolled out plans and programmes to improve the quality of existing educational programmes and facilities. Guyanese should work to ensure that those programmes continue.

Through the Ministry of Education, more than eight new and progressive programmes and initiatives have been launched. Those programmes – with highly detailed plans – cover all aspects of education including student attendance, teacher training, and even addresses the social and economic needs of all persons involved, particularly students.
One of the most important programme is the Guyana Education Sector Improvement Project (GESIP). The main objectives of the GESIP are to support the government in improving (i) the curricula and teaching quality at the pre-primary, primary, and lower secondary levels and (ii) the learning environment in the Faculty of Health Science at The University of Guyana (UG).

The Project will directly benefit about 146,000 nursery, primary and lower secondary school students in Guyana; 760 students at the University of Guyana (UG) Health Sciences Department; approximately 8,700 nursery, primary and lower secondary school teachers, and 821 faculty members of the UG Health Sciences Department. Further, the Ministry of Education would benefit through improving capacity in curriculum design.

Given current enrollment between males and females, 50 per cent of the student beneficiaries from nursery to lower secondary levels are females. More than 70% of the UG Health and Sciences student beneficiaries are females. Broadly, high quality education will equip all students with the skills and knowledge to enable them to pursue higher education and obtain decent-paying jobs, which will give them a higher quality of life while contributing to Guyana’s economy.

Over $14 million is being spent on this ongoing programme.
Another significant initiative is the Early Childhood Education Project (ECEP) that targets children in the hinterland and other outlying areas. The project will benefit children attending the two years of nursery education and Grade 1, that is, children aged 3 1?2 – 7 years, living in Barima-Waini, Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Potaro-Siparuni, and Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo regions, as well as riverine areas located in Pomeroon-Supenaam, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, Mahaica-Berbice, East Berbice-Corentyne, and Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice.

Those areas include about 8,000 children in those three grades each year, and their families. Additionally, approximately 440 nursery and Grade 1 teachers would benefit from improved working conditions and training. Several thousand parents and caregivers in those geographic areas would also benefit from education, tailored to fit their particular needs.

The objective of the ECEP is “to improve emergent literacy and numeracy outcomes for children at the nursery level and primary Grade 1 in hinterland regions and targeted remote riverine areas.”

This objective would be achieved through the implementation of four project components:
1. Capacity Building for Nursery and Grade 1 Teachers in Hinterland Regions and Targeted Remote Riverine Areas;

2. Provision of Early Childhood Education Resource Kits to all Nursery and Grade 1 Classes in Hinterland Regions and Targeted Remote Riverine Areas;

3. Parental/Caregiver Education; and

4. Implementation Support, Administration and M&E
Other projects target improving secondary education, teacher training, general literacy (starting at an early age), and ensuring that students are aware of sexual safety.
Government’s comprehensive plans to build a more educated nation are aimed at ensuring that every Guyanese has the opportunity to build a better life. Guyanese, for their own benefit, must ensure that those plans continue to be implemented. Citizens must act to make sure that government’s programmes for education are not interrupted or disrupted.