Education Month in September will this year be held under the theme: “School attendance and punctuality: keys to education success”.

The Ministry of Education, in a preliminary programme, said Education Minister, Shaik Baksh on September 1, will officially declare the month’s activities and deliver a message to mark the occasion at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD).

According to the programme, International Literacy Day on September 8 will be observed under the theme: “The power of literacy” and possibly feature one week of activities in schools of the various education districts.

On September 11, there will be a GUYAID presentation at NCERD and another presentation on September 16, this time of attendance certificates for the Georgetown District at North Ruimveldt Primary.

On September 18, an awareness walk will be held, starting at North Ruimveldt Secondary, to encourage children and teachers to attend school regularly and punctually.

The Festival of Choirs for primary school students will be held at the National Culture Centre on September 24, followed by choirs for those at the secondary level the following day.

On September 29, the J.O.F Haynes debating competition will begin with Region Four facing off with Georgetown at the Diamond Secondary School.

This will be followed by a health fair the following day at the YMCA ground on Thomas Road, Georgetown.

The Chief Education Officer, Ms. Geneveive White-Nedd, and the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) President, Mr. Colwyn King, on October 5 will each present their teachers’ day message at NCERD.

Activities for the month will culminate with the national awards ceremony at the National Culture Centre on October 7.

Throughout the month, Minister Baksh and Minister Dr Desrey Fox will participate in face-the-community meetings in the various regions.

In addition, there will be panel discussions on the theme of Education Month 2009 on both radio and television.