GUYANESE-BORN University of Toronto Professor Rita Persaud has donated $18M in musical and science equipment to five secondary schools and the University of Guyana.
Tapping into her network in Canada where she lives, Professor Persaud was able to procure drum sets, violins, saxophones, microscopes, telescopes among other equipment.
The items are valued at $18M and will be donated to Berbice High School (BHS), J.C Chandisingh secondary, Abrams Zuil secondary, Anna Regina Multilateral, Cotton Field secondary and the University of Guyana, the Ministry of Education noted in a press release on Saturday.

According to the release, Professor Persaud said the institutions reached out to her at different levels for assistance and she immediately agreed to assist.
“Professor Persaud said that, as someone who has intimate knowledge of the importance of music and science in education, she proposed to ensure she was able to deliver for the institutions. She said when she approached persons and organisations in an effort to secure the equipment they readily donated. Notwithstanding the benevolence of individuals, the scholar said she personally bought many of items and she was satisfied that she did,” the Education Ministry noted.

According to the release, the Guyanese-born scholar said that she was aware that many of students will, for the first time, be playing the saxophone and the violin and this will serve as an avenue for brain development. With regards to the science equipment, she said these will create greater interest in science and will facilitate hands-on learning.
Minister of Education Priya Manickchand expressed gratitude to Professor Persuad and the other donors who contributed to making the venture a reality. At the handing over ceremony on Friday last, Permanent Secretary, Alfred King, said that the donation will improve the delivery of the Fine Arts and sciences in these institutions.

The items received are six complete seven-piece drum sets, one electronic violin, two saxophones, four clarinets, a television set, 16 microscopes electronic computer interface, two measuring scales for a laboratory, a trombone, three trumpets, six violins, a flute, a printer, two TASCO telescopes, six telescopes celestron astromaster (for Physics, Science, or Cosmology programme), four Chemistry kits, textbooks for the University of Guyana Library, one laptop, two computer screens and one printer