Georgetown : The Hope Secondary School, under its motto “Determination and hard work brings success,” held its 2014 Graduation ceremony last evening.
Giving the feature address at the graduation ceremony was the Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall who congratulated the students for their achievements. Commendations were also extended by the AG to the parents for making the necessary sacrifices to educate their children.
He charged that their sacrifices are now being celebrated and that the parents should continue to give the necessary support and guidance, as the children venture further in their studies. The AG also laid praises at the feet of the teachers who he said are often underappreciated and not given the recognition they so rightly deserve.
Minister Nandlall, said that he was impressed with the quality of results emanating from the school, with two of its student placing in the top one percent of the entire country. He also praised the substantial improvements being made in important subject areas like Mathematics and English. He noted too, that the school was doing very well, even though it was not even in existence five years ago. “Five years ago the site where this school is located was a pasture. It has now been converted into a center of learning capable of producing students with the potential and caliber of being leaders of our country for tomorrow.”
The reason, according to the AG, for the school achieving so much even though it was not in existence five years ago, is because of the dedication of government to specifically target the education sector. The reason for targeting the education sector according to the Minister is because, “our young people are our greatest asset, and the best way to nurture and prepare that asset is by education. Education is the safest vehicle to transport a people out of the vicious cycle of poverty.”
The AG highlighted that government redesigned how resources to schools were distributed throughout the geographical landscape of the country by ensuring that it was more equitable. Prior to now, he said that urban schools were given the greater bulk of the resources and naturally they performed better. However, in this new dispensation the resources were spread out more evenly amongst urban and rural schools so that each child, wherever they were located, had access to the same resources. This the AG said, was the reason why we are seeing explosive results from the students of Anna Regina in Essequibo, Mackenzie in Linden, and schools in Berbice.
The AG called on those graduating to “aim for the stars” in whatever field of discipline they decide to pursue. He advised the students gathered that they have completed only the foundation and must dedicate their energies in the further pursuit of their careers.
“The shortest distance between any two points is a straight line. You must be one of those points and your goals the other point. You must be able to move to that point by that straight line…It is not going to be easy, distractions and obstacles are going to be many, you have to ensure that you never lose your focus. Every challenge will test you. It will test you mettle and your character, none must distract you from the path that you have set for yourself. Each of the challenges that you overcome must be used as a learning experience as you go forward and each one will make you stronger. In the end, you must arrive at that destination.”
He further advised the students that, “your family and moral values must remain a compass by which you are guided. Your religion must be a cornerstone reminder, an institution that you must go to when you feel overwhelmed by obstacle and challenges. You must be disciplined and dedicated…these attributes will allow you to achieve your objective. Whatever goals you set for yourself in the future, they must redound in service to your country, humanity and of course yourselves.”
The AG told the gathering, that the graduating students will play a significant part in the important industries of the country that are constantly evolving. He spoke to the addition of agro processing to refine and add more value to Guyana’s agriculture sector, and the need for the students to prepare themselves for those developments. He also, addressed the booming manufacturing sectors that will materialise once hydroelectricity comes on stream and significantly reduces the cost of paying for electricity. Additionally, thousands of skilled jobs will be available in the petroleum sector once oil is found, said the AG.
New vistas will be opened when Guyana becomes interconnected, with its South American neighbours via a highway to Brazil and bridge across the Corentyne River. These transformational projects will require the skill and expertise of those who are graduating, the AG noted.
He spoke to the inputs needed of the coming generation to address the issues of climate change, and said they should become technically equipped for the technological revolution, which the government is laying the foundation for with the instillation of fiber optic cables.
Minister Nandlall concluded that, “I say all of that to you to emphasise that you have great opportunities ahead of you in your own country and there is no need to look elsewhere. You have demonstrated great potential; I challenge you to unleash that potential in service to your country and your people. I wish you all the best.”
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