SEVEN years ago, Giddel Thompson, a dedicated educator, was spotlighted for his effort in creating a fun learning environment for children through his private lessons, Giddel’s All Momentous Intellectuals (GIDAMI).
Thompson, at the time, expressed hope to expand his reach, increase the capacity of his venture and be among Guyana’s well-known, established tutors such as Sir Morgan, Sir Leon and Sir Lee. This dream is becoming a reality for the educator, who can now facilitate more students at his Q8-562, Go Slow Avenue, Tucville, Georgetown location, four houses off Mandela Avenue.
In a recent interview with this paper, Thompson, who is popularly known as ‘Sir Gidami,’ said his expansion was prompted by the need to continue teaching. Thompson has been an educator for around 15 years. His lessons have been in existence for just as long.
Throughout the years, Thompson has strived for more, first with his move from his initial location in Sophia, Georgetown, to Gordon Street, Kitty and now to Tucville.
Thompson said, “It was difficult to get persons to send their kids to Sophia for after-school lessons. So, the attendance, or I should say the registration, wasn’t going the way it was supposed to go.”
He continued, “So now we’re more centred in Georgetown. Persons have more access to us.”
The GIDAMI owner said one of his challenges is that most persons come to register for lessons when they are expected to write their Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams the following year. Doing this means there are only eight or fewer months to prepare a child for their CSEC exams.
To avoid pressure, he urges parents to register their children at least by Grade Nine, so that there is enough time to prepare them to excel.
With 41 learners enrolled, Thompson teaches mathematics to pupils from Grade Five to students at the CSEC level.
“I’m only working in class with students, in grades in secondary school. So, we work with those students in class and for the grade six, right now I’m only doing private tutoring for Grade Five and Six students,” he revealed, adding that in January, there will be another intake of Grade Five and Six students.
On staff there are about six teachers, a cleaner and administrative staff. The teachers focus on subject areas such as English, Social Studies, Integrated Science, Principles of Business, Principles of Accounts, Office Administration and Human and Social Biology.
The teachers come from several secondary schools including Saint Stanislaus College, North Georgetown Secondary and Annandale Secondary School, among others.
