By Michel Outridge
Having amassed 24 years of teaching, Cecilia Craig is still passionate about her role as an educator in her community.
The 40-year-old is from Kumaka Village, Essequibo River and is attached to the multi-grade school at Caria Caria, a few villages away.

She is one of three teachers, who resides in the community. Unlike other teachers from different parts of Guyana, who are relying on the internet and electronics to facilitate learning during the pandemic, Craig is left doing her job the old fashion way.
“As is, we try to distribute worksheets to pupils and with the permission of the parents we do home visits and assist the children, but at the same time there is only so much we can do.”

The Grades Three and Four teacher noted that the children are trying at their end.

“We give the children textbooks and worksheets given through the Ministry of Education to promote home-schooling from Mondays to Fridays and the children are receptive but yearn to return to school”.

Craig added that the community has a large number of school-age children.

“Sometimes I would feel bad about myself not being able to do more for the children with schools closed because I know of the challenges they face in learning and when we were not handing out worksheets and textbooks there was nothing to do.”

The village teacher related that being out of the classroom is not easy because they cannot get face-to-face interaction with the children to gauge their reactions.

She disclosed that she would walk around the community to do checks on the children to see how they are coping with the worksheets and textbooks.

“If we get an ICT hub it will be useful and beneficial for us because the children can access the internet and be more aware of what’s happening in the country and further afield.”

The veteran teacher noted that they are receiving support from the Ministry of Education and are thankful that the children are being home-schooled.

Craig disclosed that despite challenges, they have had success stories as it relates to the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC).

As for the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) six pupils gained entry to secondary schools on the Essequibo Coast such as Abram Zuil and Aurora with the highest marks attained being 420.

The only time that Teacher Craig left the area in the last 24 years was to attending the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE).

Carl Croker photos saved in a folder in Graphics as Village Focus.
Captions:

06406, 06405 – Teacher Cecelia Craig has been educating students in the communities for over two decades.