SARASWATI Vidya Niketan (SVN) at Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara, hosted its fifth annual Dikshant Samaroha (Graduation Ceremony and Dinner) last Sunday, when 26 students, who were successful at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination, received their certificates.

Head of the Public and Press Affairs Unit at the Office of the President, Dr Prem Misir, presents the President’s Award of Excellence to Best Graduating Student Rajiv Nandalall.

The secondary school was able to secure 99 grade ones and 93 grade twos out of the 248 entries and the Best Graduating Student was Rajiv Nandalall, who passed in 11 subjects, including eight distinctions and three grade ones.

He copped the President’s Award of Excellency and the Rupert Gobin Memorial Award and Trophy for English Language.

The occasion also saw the official opening of the Zara Computer Centre, for which equipment was donated by United States (U.S.) based Guyanese-born businessman George Subraj and his family.

Delivering his Principal’s Report, Swami Aksharananda Ji said the school has done “fairly well” this year, placing third in the country at CSEC.

It has achieved a great deal in the five years of existence but he admitted that a lot more could have been attained.

The religious leader said the results were slightly less than in the previous year and acknowledged the tremendous effort and commitment of the teachers.

He said SVN far exceeded the national average of around 30 per cent in Mathematics, with 80 per cent passes and similar showing in English Language.

From left: George Subraj; Jas Persaud of Grove Realty Inc. in NY; and Swami Aksharananda

Aksharananda recalled that, about a month ago, at the opening of a new wing of the building, he mentioned that the education system still has not come to terms with the fact that Guyana is a nation of a “very diverse people”.

“That our education system still is unable to recognise our cultural diversities. We will find it much easier to have an Indian name mentioned in a text book coming from the United States and from United Kingdom than we have from the text books coming from the Caribbean,” he explained.

He contended that something is seriously wrong not only in Guyana but in the Caribbean and it needs to be recognised and addressed.

Aksharananda observed that rural students are at a great disadvantage, in terms of getting benefit from special training and other programmes.

“Whether we are in a private school or a public school, teachers are involved in delivering education and we should all benefit,” he insisted.

About the computer facility, he said the donation will go down probably as one of the largest investments from a private individual in education locally.

“There can be no more important and significant contribution that one can make to the education of young people,” Aksharananda maintained.

Meticulous concern

He declared it is not mere generosity because of Subraj’s meticulous concern with every last little detail of the project.

According to the Principal, it is not just a question of giving money and, extending gratitude and appreciation to the Subraj family, he said he hopes the school can prove a worthy recipient of the remarkable act of generosity.

Another speaker at the function, Minister of Labour, Mr. Manzoor Nadir said the achievement by SVN has certainly been phenomenal over the five years.

“It could not be just because we have good teachers. I am confident the daily prayers that emanate from this complex has a significant part to play in the achievements of these young people and the further achievement that we can expect,” he offered.

Agreeing that the society is not perfect and there is more to be done, he, however, acknowledged that a lot has been achieved.

“It beholds all of us today, as we celebrate the achievement of this college, as we celebrate the achievement of our young people who have done remarkably well, it beholds us all to even redouble our efforts to look after those who need our help even more,” Nadir stated.

He lauded the contribution of the Subraj family for aiding the development of the country and said:“We recognise the contribution of the diaspora and families like that of Subraj who have really stepped forward and contributed to the upliftment of the lives of their fellow Guyanese.”

Nadir said Subra gave recognition to how the Guyanese society has raised people who live side by side, work side by side and achieve side by side, while being blessed with diversity.

“All of us, regardless of who we are and where we live, all of us have a unique opportunity to be the best we can. It takes constant work, it takes obedience and it takes a lot of prayers,” he emphasised, while encouraging the graduates to make the best of the opportunities presented them.

Delivering the charge, former Professor of the American University in Washington D.C. and Office of the President staffer, Dr. Randy Persaud congratulated the graduates and noted that success and excellence can only come through vigorous exploitation of opportunities given.

He said SVN has been providing opportunities for children to reach for the stars but advised them:“The greatest challenge is for you to do things for yourself and others rather than to ask what others can do for you.”

“Today 26 of you will walk through these doors and leave for that big wide world out there but I have to tell you it is a world without guarantees. But you will not face this world alone.

“This education that you received here will be a lifelong partner and this commuity, that once nurtured you, will always be here, of that I am sure,” Persaud assured them.

He cautioned the graduates that the challenges before them are steep but also present untold opportunities for them to explore, engage in the issues and make their own contribution.

Having courage
“This is about having the courage, the dedication, the vision to go out there and take history in your own hands. Others have before you and the time is now yours,” Persaud said.

He urged the graduates to pursue careers and make contributions to society that will help ease burdens and build hopes for people and to take, seriously, the call of public service and serve their communities and country as a whole, dedicating themselves to a more unified and harmonious Guyana.

President and Founder of Zara Luxury Apartments and Homes, benefactor Mr. George Subraj said good action is divine and alluded to the importance of children.

“They are our greatest resources,” he said, encouraging them to be best at whatever they do and keep refining their skills.

“You are tomorrow’s future…you are the future doctors, president, lawyers and we believe, if we do what we are doing right now, bringing you the latest technology, it could happen,” Subraj said.

Known for his tremendous contribution towards Guyana’s first kidney transplant in July last year, the philanthropist is now aiming to touch the lives of thousands of young people.

Subraj said the kidney transplant project only helped one person and cost about the same as the one at the school but the latter can, perhaps, help thousands of people.

Reminding the children that they have their whole lives ahead of them, he said:“Most importantly, I am from Guyana. I have done well. I have been blessed and got more than what I really, truly need and there are a lot of people who have a lot less than what they really need. This is my way of giving back, to the less fortunate, before I leave this planet.”

Subraj, who is involved in charitable work abroad, too, said the SVN project was conceptualised about two years and will contribute to the development of the young students.

He challenged others in the diaspora to return and reach out to people, giving back to their communities and homeland.

Subraj disclosed that the SVN centre has 40 computer systems and, if the need arises, another 10 will be added, despite the present gifts cost between G$20M and G$24M.

The furnishings at the centre are from ND&S Furniture and the air condition system donated by Mr. Anand Rambharose.

Special prizes were presented to the top academic achievers for 2008-2009, including the Niel Chand Award, SVN Honour students 2008-2009 and students for the most outstanding contribution to SVN.

Other aspects of the programme included traditional Indian cultural performances and, among those present were former Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General, Mr. Doodnauth Singh S.C; Head of the Public and Press Affairs Unit at Office of the President, Dr Prem Misir and senior officials of the Education.