Twenty-two schools receive tennis tables
THE Guyana Table-tennis Association (GTTA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) and the Ministry of Education (MOE)  yesterday launched the National Schools’ table tennis programme  with the distribution of 22 table tennis tables to various schools. Prior to the distribution ceremony which took place at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH), president of the GTTA and Commissioner of Police Henry Greene, along with Ministers of Sports and Education respectively, Dr Frank Anthony and Sheik Baksh congratulated the schools.
Director of Sport in the National Sports Commission (NSC) Neil Kumar called the day a historic one in the annals of the GTTA whose General Secretary Godfrey Munroe stated, the project was not a one off one as the Government has pledged its support to same for the next two years.
“I am happy to be associated with the MCYS and MOE with this programme, as the GTTA believes this is the way to go when it comes to sports and more so table tennis,” said Greene.
He continued, “The GTTA’s focus is to start with youths and as some of you will be aware, the International Table-tennis Federation (ITTF) has commenced its cadet programme for children at the Under-10, 13 and 17 level respectively, which means they can become champions and even gold medalists in their respective age groups.
Added to that, our programme is no different from what the MCYS has been pushing for when it comes to table tennis and our young people, and this drive to issue the tables to the various schools chosen will help develop the sport within those schools.”
The man, who took over the stewardship of the GTTA earlier this year, said there is a need for sports within the schools and community to keep the youths away from the ills that are plaguing our society in this day and age.
He said the GTTA intends to implement a programme under the theme ‘Buy a table’, wherein parents and even business personalities can buy a table tennis table for a school or even youth club of his or her choice with a view to further develop the sport.
He proceeded to outline his Association’s plans for the remainder of the year which includes the National Schools Championships under the sponsorship of Digicel that will be held from 5th to 7th November.
There is also a Veteran’s programme while the GTTA is looking at sending a team to Suriname at the invitation of the Suriname Table-tennis Association to compete in a Goodwill series between that country and Guyana in December.
Greene, who was lauded by Dr Anthony, Minister Baksh and Kumar for the hard work he has put in since  taking up the presidency of the GTTA, promised to work assiduously hard towards the further development of table tennis not only in schools, but Guyana as a whole.
Minister Baksh called on the schools to limit the number of subjects in grades 7, 8 and 9, in order to promote sports as the MOE endeavours to have more sports being played at the tertiary level.
“The MOE has been working closely with both the NSC and MCYS to promote sports in the school system with the aim of intensifying sports and I am happy we are promoting the sport of table tennis in our schools,” stated Minister Baksh.
He continued to state, “The MOE have begun to assign Physical Education (PE) teachers at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE), which means we will have 100s of teachers coming out as PE teachers for the school system.
At the same time, there will be a training programme for trainers within the MOE, as we are looking at having 100 more schools emulate the 17 schools who had 100% success at the CSEC level in PE this year, which means our bid to promote sports in schools is making a headway.”
Minister Baksh expressed his desire to see sports being organized during the school holidays (Easter, August and Christmas) and at the same time on a rotational basis, have schools organize sporting activities on Friday afternoons from 12:00h.
He cited the need for the rehabilitation of some school grounds, such as the North Ruimveldt Multilateral Secondary School ground whose work will be placed on a bid system, as the Ministry of Education seeks to re-energise sports within the schools.
Dr Anthony congratulated all the schools who will be benefiting from the tables and charged them to take great care of them, while stating that both his Ministry and the MOE will be working with the GTTA towards the development of table tennis in schools.
“All the schools who received a table today, must be present at the National Schools Championships next month and the MCYS will make it our duty to get those who are unable to make it, to the championships.
Added to that, we will be implementing a special annual award for the Best Primary and Secondary school in the field of sports, with the victorious recipients in both categories receiving a plaque and $500,000 that they can use towards the purchasing of sports gears and equipment for their school, with the award being presented at the NSC national awards,” stated Dr. Anthony.
In calling the presentation a historic moment for the GTTA, Kumar said a significant amount of work was put in by the MCYS and the Education Ministry along with the synergies of the GTTA, from which the schools are benefitting.
“I am looking forward to the day when Guyana can return to the echelons of table tennis in the Caribbean and with the implementation of the various programmes being planned by the GTTA, it may not be long before that is realized.
With regards to table tennis in our schools, the MCYS and the Ministry of Education will be meeting to ratify a programme and with the advent of Greene as the head of the GTTA which is a boost for the sport, as so much has been achieved since he took over the presidency, the development of table tennis in our schools is a reality in the not too distant future,” stated Kumar.
The event was chaired by Munroe who said the GTTA will be using the project, one they have been trying to enact in previous years, as a catalyst towards identifying future table tennis players from within the schools.
The schools receiving the tables yesterday were drawn from the 10 Administrative Regions in the country and while there were no schools from Regions 8 and 9, the intervention of Minister Baksh saw Dr Anthony adding two schools from those Regions to the list.