Dear Editor,

PLEASE allow me some space to register my views on the recently-announced results of the CSEC and CAPE 2019 examinations.
Not only has Guyana registered the highest overall pass rate (73 %)in the region, but locally as well, the results have broken new frontiers.

But Editor, these results were not brought about by chance, or as we will say in our local parlance, a ‘fluke’, but by what I believe is good leadership by the Education Minister, Nicolette Henry.  This is the same lady that has taken some amount of ‘stick’ in some sections of society for things that are pointless rehashing in light of this nation’s riding on a high after the CSEC and CAPE results.

Editor, love her or hate her, Nicolette Henry, from the inception of taking up the reins at that Ministry after Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine left, set about transforming the education sector. And she said it will pay off in the long-term and that her government wanted to lessen the disparity in education between the coast and the hinterland.

There is clear evidence, Editor, that what the MoE is doing is bringing to bear notable fruit. Not that it is a bad thing, but on many occasions, you have the top CSEC performer coming from Georgetown. This year it’s Riana Toney from Region Two. This, to me, shows that emphasis on education is on the same level nationally. Editor, more evidence of this is brought to bear with St. Ignatius Secondary School student in Region Nine, Amisha Ramdin was placed among the country’s top performers.  If my memory serves me correctly, this has never happened, or it is now happening after a long hiatus, a student from a hinterland school placing among the nation’s top students.

Editor, I recall one of the first decisions of her tenure Henry took was to establish teacher training centres in all the regions. She felt that, in time, with more trained teachers in the classroom, better results will be had, and the educational outcomes will justify this. And I believe the CSEC and the CAPE results demonstrate this, and we cannot forget CAPE results overall is recorded at 93 per cent.

In addition, Editor, it cannot be by chance that Guyana has performed better than many Caribbean countries at this years’ CSEC examination in more than ten subject areas.
Editor, the Education Sector has a far way to go in order to be aligned with what obtains globally. However, on the current path, and with the current leadership at the MoE, I believe President Granger should retain Henry at this ministry, as it is clear she likes it there.

Finally Editor, in spite of the investment made in the Education Sector, much more resources have to be expended to really revolutionise it; greater emphasis has to be placed on ICT as a tool to drive the development and modernisation of this sector.  It has to be done; we are living in a transformative time, and the only thing constant is change. And as a country, it is imperative that we embrace this change for the greater good.

Congratulations to the teachers; those hard-working children; the officials at the Ministry of Education, and Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry.

Regards,
Elizabeth Williams