– Chairperson Denise Belgrave

CHAIRPERSON of the Education Committee for Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Region 10, Denise Belgrave, has declared that the Region is making significant positive strides in its development. Belgrave made this disclosure, while speaking to councillors of her RDC recently.

Expressing congratulations and best wishes to the Regional Education Officer (REdO) and several of the Education Officers, she disclosed that a number of achievements have been made thus far. “We here in Region Ten are making significant strides in educational development and I would like to express the Committee’s happiness about this as we are confident that the growth being made thus far will continue,” Belgrave said.

She pointed out that education is alive and well in Region Ten, noting that the education department and a team of officers, whom she said seemed determined in their pursuits, are making inroads in a number of areas. This she noted continues to result in several achievements being made by the education department, adding that the region under its current leadership will continue on this path. Belgrave said that 65 of the Regions’ schools have been rehabilitated, stating that Mackenzie Hugh School which is viewed as the premier secondary school has been given a major facelift. She pointed out that the facelift was executed recently to the tune of $40M.

She went on to state that the school’s computer laboratory was rewired, with there being a significant general working environment being improved with new water facility. This facility she said has been providing improved water quality to those that it serves.

The Education Committee Chairperson went on to state that the Christianburg-Wismar Secondary School was given a $100M improvement. This school, Belgrave pointed out has seen tremendous strides within the last four years declaring that it’s a testimony that the current committee continues to work exceptionally hard in bringing about holistic development. Belgrave went on to point out that the school has also added a Sixth form class, thus being the second school within Linden to have a sixth form. “We are very excited and proud to announce that this school is the second school in Linden to have a sixth form and I would like to state that this shows improvement and development,” she said.

The school is now adequately staffed by trained teachers; the Education Chairperson went on to state that, this will certainly help in continuing to improve the academic results produced by the school. She pointed out that with regards to Kwakwani and Amelia’s Ward there are two fully supported student hostels, stressing that it universalises the access to education within the Region. “I would like to state that the Amerindian Hostel on Burnham Drive also houses students from the hinterland attending the Linden Technical Institute (LTI),” Belgrave pointed out.

However, she added that a breakfast programme at Amelia’s Ward, Dalawalla and Kwakwani will be added to the juice and biscuit programme that has already been in existence. This, she stressed will help students who are from economically challenged homes to perform much better. She declared that ensuring children have a meal will certainly help them in continuing their education. “The breakfast programme I would like to say is a great initiative and we are seeing excellent results, as certainly there are some students who are certainly economically challenged and I am happy to see that the children are given an opportunity to have a breakfast which will help to boost their academic pursuits, because of this initiative the evidence is clear that the average performances in Linden continue to rise steadily, she said.

Denise Belgrave who herself has been a long-time educator said that the’ David G’ buses have been effectively servicing the Upper Demerara and Berbice in both riverine and land communities. She pointed out that the buses have been servicing a number of communities like Coomacka, Moblissa and Kwakwani adding that the ‘David G’ boats have been transporting children from Dalawalla. She continued that the fuelfor boats are given, so as to help pupils commute at Malali, Sand Hills, Hururu and Develdt.

Belgrave said that the Ministry of Education in its 2019 budget allocated some $2.2B to the region pointing out that this represents 60 percent of the Region’s total allocation. This she said will certainly help in further enhancing and catering to several of their planned projects and programmes, while declaring that it will contribute to the continued growth and expansion of education within the region
Belgrave noted further that this growth will result in the construction of two state-of-the-art primary and nursery schools later this year, as they seek to advance educational development through the construction of educational facilities. The schools would be constructed in Bamia and Amelia’s Ward to the value of $40M. It was also revealed that the Christianburg primary, which, according to Belgrave was transferred to St. Aidan’s was also slated for construction in the last quarter of this year. “We are very excited with the growth and development thus far, and, as the Chairperson, I am happy to boldly say that our education sector would certainly be the envy of every other region,” Education Committee Chairperson Denise Belgrave stated.

She concluded that she was very pleased with the significant progress being made, declaring that the education sector within the region will continue achieving significantly in its developmental path. This, the Chairman said has helped in further boosting the educational sector within the Region.