-Minister Manickchand says as MoE opens first Arrival Day Village

-urges young Guyanese to continue the work of our ancestors 

LEARNERS from across Guyana on Tuesday flocked the Arthur Chung Conference Centre at Liliendaal for what was described as a historic event organised by the Ministry of Education (MoE).

The Arrival Day Village, which will also be open to members of the public today, is part of this year’s Arrival Day observance.

It aims to showcase Guyana’s diverse culture and the rich, vibrant history of our ancestors from their homeland to the shores of Guyana.

In her brief address, Education Minister Priya Manickchand related that our ancestors, despite where they came from or the hardships they faced when they arrived, withstood difficulties to stay here and build a better life for us all.

She said government is committed to building a better Guyana for our future citizens to thrive in.

“(Government is) building a better Guyana day by day so that you could thrive here, whether you live in Region One or Region Six, whether you are Christian or Hindu or Muslim, whether you are Guyanese of African descent or Amerindian descent or Indian descent, or Chinese descent or Portuguese descent or European descent, or whether you mixed up with all. We are here to build a country for all of you,” she emphasised.

The minister told leaners who were present that they have one thing to do and that is to participate in this building. She opined that we owe it to our ancestors to keep building the Guyana they worked hard to make home.

Further, she told them that they must use their devices to spread good information, love, promote unity and to ensure that our ancestors can be proud of Guyana today.

As she sought to encourage the learners, she told them that they are bright, young Guyanese children who are aiming to grow up in a land that is full of love, unity and togetherness; one that thrives, and where the government is committed to giving each of them equal opportunities.

Moreover, Minister Manickchand stated that the Arrival Day Village is something that will be seen more in the coming years. “To all parents, this village is made up of the Social Studies content required for your children’s learning, for them to be successful at various exams, including the NGSA and CXC Social Studies and History, and so I encourage you to bring your children to this village over the next two days,” she emphasised.

Adding to her remarks, Deputy Chief Education Officer- Technical (DCEO-T), Dr. Ritesh Tularam said this Arrival Day activity brings the MoE’s curriculum to life, providing learners in Grades Four, Five, Six and Seven, with the opportunity to interact with the material, and to experience what life was like for our ancestors.

He pointed out that students will see firsthand how our ancestors contributed to our society and by extension, Guyana’s development.

Dr. Tularam said for Grade Five pupils the knowledge gained from the two-day event will greatly boost their preparedness for the National Grade Five Annual Assessment and the National Grade Six Assessment.

“Our learners are encouraged to ask as much questions as possible and to take away the rich, thick, descriptive experience, and in so doing, they will appreciate that Guyana was not built by one particular ethnic group but rather all the people that make up our beautiful land, one Guyana,” Dr. Tularam said.

Acknowledging the idea behind the creation of the village, the DCEO-T said Arrival Day is a day that we celebrate the diverse culture of all the people who came or were brought to our land.

“Each group of ancestors made considerable contributions to our nation’s development. History tells us that our ancestors came in search of food and warmer weather or as colonisers. Some were brought forcibly to work in the sugar plantations as slaves, while others came to work in the plantations as indentured labourers.” he noted.