SOME 42 students from the Sophia Night School have been registered with the Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency (CRMA), and were encouraged to remember that there still exist opportunities for persons despite their not finishing secondary school. Such reassuring remarks were delivered by Minister of Labour, Keith Scott at a forum on “Horizon to a Brighter Future”.

As he delivered the feature address at the forum, Minister Scott informed the students that being a secondary school drop out in no way impeded on anyone’s ability to go on and make a difference in one’s country or in the world. Scott cited Guyanese Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, the father of trade unionism in the Caribbean, as an example of someone who went on to do something impactful despite deficiencies in his academic background.
Held at the Department of Labour’s Boardroom on Brickdam, the forum was organized by the Ministry of Social Protection’s CRMA, which is collaborating with the Sophia Night School to have students registered with the Agency.

“In an effort to improve the lives of youths to a brighter future, the CRMA was able to establish a relationship with the Sophia Night School, and Sophia Community Development Association, in addressing issues affecting youths in relation to unemployment, due to the lack of the required education and skills,” explained Assistant Chief Recruitment and Manpower officer, Yolanda Grant.

“Our aim is to empower youths to acquire the skills, knowledge and the drive to achieve, by supporting them to develop the skills, knowledge and vision needed to achieve employment and decent work, so that they can become productive citizens. This will enhance individual productive development and that of Guyana, as a whole.”
The 42 students were between 17 and 35 years of age.

“We expect that more youths will join in the programme, to seize this golden opportunity to achieve success in their academic pursuit,” Grant noted.
As the name suggests, the Sophia Night School offers night classes to secondary school drop outs and to other persons wishing to write the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) subjects.

The programme started in 2016 after the Sophia Community Development Association (SOCDA) in collaboration with the Ministry of the Presidency, and Express Guyana piloted three CSEC night school projects across Guyana, aimed at providing persons with an opportunity to acquire CSEC qualifications.

The Sophia Night School started out offering five CSEC Subjects, namely Mathematics, English A, Principles of Accounts, Principles of Business and Office Administration. Over the years EDPM, Social Studies, Human Biology, Integrated Science and Agricultural Science were added.
To date, over 250 individuals have been registered at the night school with the youngest being 14 and the oldest being 50.
“At the night school, our policy is pretty uncomplicated; it is come as you are but with the intention to learn and to make your life better,” noted Coordinator for the Night School, Orin Nelson
“Some of our students come from backgrounds with little or no positive role models available. The atmosphere at the school is one that encourages a rewarding experience- personally, academically and professionally. For some the opportunity presented at the night school is a second or third chance to enhance their educational qualifications. It is also a place where the supervision and teaching rendered enable you to thrive.”
The School is open to all and not just residents of Sophia. Over the years it has had students coming from other parts of Georgetown as well as from the East Coast, East Bank and West Bank Demerara.

“The human rights article 26 speaks to everyone having the right to an education. Safe, cohesive and inclusive spaces in Guyana are very necessary in our country and the Sophia Community Development Association provides just that. The Night School provides educational, professional and technical training, youth work and sport opportunities, all with the intention of promoting shared values, fostering social integration and enhancing intercultural understanding.