– Funding aims to promote better education delivery in classrooms

By Indrawattie Natram

THE joy was evident on the faces of head teachers in the Pomeroon-Supenaam region as they received cash grants totaling $56.6M to help them manage their schools. Some 87 schools in the region are benefitting.

During a brief ceremony at the Anna Regina Secondary School, Education Minister Priya Manickchand instructed that the funds be used to purchase janitorial, field, and office supplies for the classrooms. The cash grants were delivered based on direct requests made by teachers from various schools.
“The cash grant is not given as a way to take away your ability to complain. I am giving you this because our children need it; if you can go out and buy what the children need when they need it, imagine the service you will be providing to those children,” Manickchand said.

The Minister expects head teachers to spend the cash grant wisely since it’s the first time it’s being given. Teachers were provided with a list for purchasing guidance. The minister emphasised that the money should be utilised by head teachers to make classrooms more conducive for children’s learning with the aid of learning materials. Every school across the country will be given money per term.

The minister stated that the Ministry will continue to offer necessary resources to foster learning in schools. She mentioned that the Ministry of Education is providing an investment as an extra service to improve education delivery in Guyana.
“With investment must come better results so I expect a better matriculation rate coming from this region; I expect head teachers to supervise more and visit the classrooms ensuring that teachers are doing their work,” Manickchand added.

Region Two Chairperson, Vilma De Silva, expressed happiness that teachers in the region are benefiting and called for transparency in the process. She anticipates seeing changes in the classroom environment from teachers.

According to Regional Education Officer Shondelle Hercules, the initiative will help teachers make sure that every classroom in every school is a conducive environment for learning. The mammoth initiative, according to Hercules, will enhance curriculum delivery in Guyana, be relevant to each school’s needs, improve quality, and achieve equity. According to Hercules, classrooms will be furnished better to enhance productivity and improve learning outcomes, thus improving student performance and results.
A number of head teachers thanked the Ministry of Education for their initiative.

Head Teacher of Abram Zuil Secondary Jerome Rajpersaud said the initiuative is a great way to improve the classrooms and that the cash grant will go directly to the children.
The initiative was welcomed by Ms. Chandradai, the head teacher of Charity Secondary, who also thanked the Minister of Education. According to her, it means that teachers can buy what they require, whenever they require it.

Mrs Rajkumarie Kanaya, the head teacher at Adventure Nursery, expressed her approval of the idea as it eliminates the need for teachers or parents to use their own money to buy supplies.

According to Wakapoa’s teacher Dale Atkinson, it will enhance Yarasharima’s ability to provide education to children. According to him, having cash is crucial when living in a rural area.