THE results of a study said Guyana has already achieved United Nations (UN) Millenium Development goal number two, which is the achievement of universal primary education.

The compilation also indicated that this country is well underway to achieving universal secondary education, it was revealed on Thursday.
“Ministries of Education should be encouraged to take responsibility for all children of school age. Coordination with partners and stakeholders can play a strong supporting role in this process,” it posited.
In this regard, the Education Ministry has made significant strides in addressing the need for equal access to education for all Guyanese children, hosting several countrywide consultations on special needs with various stakeholders last year.
Speaking on the occasion at the National Park, Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown, Education Minister Priya Manickchand said, at the release of the compendium, that the Ministry has already compiled a summary from the series of consultations and is in the process of preparing a five-year strategic plan.
Issues raised
Among the issues raised at these consultations was the necessity for physical therapy for children living with disabilities, training for deaf children from as early as the nursery level and the provision of large print textbooks or audio books for low vision students.
The released compilation speaks about the importance of inclusive education and states that the steps towards inclusion include starting during the early years of a child’s life, working with teachers, as well as involving parents, communities and other children.
It was compiled from a household survey, conducted in 13 low and middle income countries, which found that children with disabilities, aged between six and 17 years, are significantly less likely to be enrolled in school than their peers without.
The revelation was among those in the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) State of the World Children 2013 report that was made public, simultaneously worldwide on Thursday.
It said: “In principle, all children have the same right to education. In practice, children with disabilities are disproportionately denied this right. In consequence, their ability to enjoy the full rights of citizenship and take up valued roles in society- chiefly through gainful employment – is undermined.”
The findings also include results of a World Health Organisation (WHO) study in 51 countries, which show that, at the primary level, a lower percentage of both disabled boys and girls complete school than those not suffering any disability.
According to the investigation, the rate of primary school completion among boys with disabilities is 51 percent, while those without record a 61 percent rate; and disabled girls have a 42 percent completion ratio compared to 53 percent for those with none.