IN the new academic year, the North Georgetown Secondary School (NGSS) students will benefit from an electronic library, compliments of the school’s alumni.

This donation, a gift worth some $9M, commemorates the school’s 50th anniversary.
The tablets for the library were handed over to the school’s administration at a simple ceremony on Wednesday. An official ceremony will be held on September 17, 2019.
NGSS past student and Coordinator of NGSS 50, Rear Admiral (rtd) Gary Best, said the project is a collaborative effort between NGSS Guyana, NGSS North America (NA), the Education Ministry and the National Data Management Authority.

NGSS NA provided the tablets and accessories for the E-library, while NGSS Guyana built the space, provided Internet via fibre optic-cable, network connection and education content.

He also pointed out that NGSS NA, over a period of one year, hosted fund-raising activities to offset the expenses for their donation to the school.
Another member of the alumni and NGSS 50 committee, Jacqueline Squires, told the small group of people that without the contributions of the alumni, the E-library would not have been possible.

She said it was important for them to give back, since they all will forever be grateful for the role NGSS played in moulding their futures.

“The time we spent at North not only provided academic enrichment, but also significantly contributed to our social and emotional development and created in us a sense of community that is second to none. We developed lifelong friendships and memories that continued to sustain us even in our darkest moments. We can never express enough gratitude for these experiences that were in many ways, pivotal to the successes we have achieved,” Squires said.

She said by giving back, they are hoping to create outstanding current and future students of North Georgetown Secondary School.

“Of equal importance is our hope that current and future ‘Northies’ will find it significant as they purpose to create heights through, honesty, industry and cooperation, and in so doing, contribute significantly to the development of our nation. Today, I charge the benefactors of this library to use it with pride and purpose, and honour the knowledge that students who sat in the same classrooms as they do today, and walked the same halls as they, and are investing in the acquisition of their knowledge and charging them to make good of our investment,” Squires admonished.

Deputy Headmistress, Minerva Stoby, said the school is grateful for the donation and that the students will be excited come September.

“I can assure you that it wouldn’t be left as a white elephant [and] will be put to use. And I hope the students see and feel the zest that was put forward in investing in them and that the Alumni didn’t go to QC or one of the top schools, but made their mark right at NGSS,” Stoby said.

Rear Admiral (rtd) Best also used the forum to highlight that often times when someone become successful, persons tend to say, “So you went to QC?”
“I love the question,” he said, “because then I get to say, No, I went to a better school, North Georgetown Secondary School,” Best said.

He also shared that the room will run for 24 hours, and they are aiming to give it a feel and appearance like an Apple or Samsung store. This, he hopes will aid in encouraging the students to continue improving their performance.

Best told the Guyana Chronicle that he believes the world has gone past the digital age and the E-library for NGSS is keeping abreast with the advancing world.
In addition to that, the advantages are numerous, as he believes that the children would be more encouraged to read and do research because the process will be made easier through the E-library.

Only two tablets were brought over to the space to do the handing over ceremony; however, Best said about 30 or more tablets will be available from September.