–Dr Hutson takes up role as Executive Director of the National Accreditation Council

THE Ministry of Education has announced that the country’s new Chief Education Officer (CEO) is Saddam Hussain, a classroom teacher for more than 20 years.

Over the last two years, he served within the Education Ministry as the Chief Schools Inspector and has been managing the efforts to restructure the Inspectorate Unit of the Ministry of Education.

He was a Cadet Officer and was appointed a Senior Education Officer in 2011, but later declined it.

In his previous roles, Hussain has demonstrated a deep love and passion for developing the sector and transforming education and systems to meet the needs of present-day Guyana.

He brings to the position of CEO a wide range of experience, having worked at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), the Cyril Potter College of Education and the Caribbean Examinations Council.

On Wednesday, the former CEO Dr Marcel Hutson officially handed over the office to Hussain at the Education Ministry’s 26 Brickdam office.

Dr Hutson served in the position of CEO for six years, including for two years post-retirement when he was re-engaged and contracted by the current Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand.

He has made exceptional contributions to the development and forward movement of the education sector, the ministry said.

The ministry is pleased to announce that Dr Hutson will not be leaving the Ministry of Education. He will now take up the position of Executive Director of the National Accreditation Council (NAC).

The NAC is the principal body in Guyana responsible for conducting and advising on the accreditation and recognition of education and training institutions, providers, programmes and awards, whether foreign or national.

“The Ministry of Education extends tremendous gratitude to Dr Hutson for his service as Chief Education Officer, especially during one of the nation’s toughest periods, the COVID-19 pandemic. The ministry looks forward to another stellar stint in his new role,” the release said.

The ministry went on to say: “All of Guyana can be assured of the ministry’s unswerving attention to building out the best education system in the land and are encouraged to be excited about this time in education in the country.” (Ministry of Education)