…Minister Henry says some 3,800 upgraded skills since 2015

FROM 2015 to 2018, the Ministry of Education has facilitated the professional training of over 3,800 teachers for the improvement of education across Guyana.

These teachers have participated in the National Centre for Education Resource Development (NCERD) Professional Training which is just one of the avenues through which teachers are being upgraded in Guyana.

This was relayed by Minster of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry, on Thursday at the hosting of the National Toshaos’ Council (NTC) Conference at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

Providing statistics, she showed that 213 secondary school teachers and 350 primary school teachers were trained between and 2015 to 2018. The minister explained that better trained teachers, despite their region of residence, means that all Guyanese children, no matter where they reside, can receive the quality education which guarantees them a bright future.

She also noted that, as consequence to the training given, there were improved performance in the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) Examination; the General Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE).

Minister Henry said that the education sector will continue to train teachers incrementally until there is 100 per cent coverage of trained teachers in the public education system.
During her presentation to the Toshaos and community leaders, she also zeroed in on the improvements in education which have taken place in the hinterland and rural areas.

Over the years, she noted that there has been the construction of schools at Calcutta; Kato; Parikwaranau; Tabatinga; Smyth Street; Turkeyen and Mocha, while extensions took place at St. Christopher’s Nursery and Dolphin Secondary. Added to these, she noted that schools like Kato Secondary have been equipped with solar panels while others have received new science laboratories and teaching blocks.

Noting some of the projects working to boost education in the country, Minister Henry highlighted successes such as the US $1.7M Early Childhood Project and the Psychosocial Mobile Unit. Minister Henry highlighted that laptops were distributed to all trained hinterland and rural teachers, while secondary schools in villages such as St. Ignatius, Leonora, West Demerara, Bladen Hall, Diamond, North Ruimveldt and others, received tablets funded by the World Bank.

Meanwhile, the launching of the Pastoral Care Initiative saw 250 students, including those in the hinterland, benefitting, while over 1,200 trainee teachers are currently benefitting from 10 training centres.

During the discussion session with the leaders who attended, some of the leaders advocated for additional teaching personnel; dorm extensions; the construction and renovation of more schools; transportation; ICT Hubs and equipment needed to assist in education delivery. Minister Henry responded to the concerns raised and noted at the end that concerns which can be met in a short period will be met, while those which will require a process will take a time but will be addressed by the ministry. Those who spoke up were also asked to hand in their written concerns to the ministry and its staff so that their specific concerns could be better documented.

CAPTIONS SAVED AS: EDUCATION 1-2
EDUCATION 1: Minster of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry (MoE photo)

EDUCATION 2: Leaders attending National Toshaos Council Conference at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (MoE photo)