Georgetown: The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) accused the Opposition of lacking “real interest” in the development of Guyana’s youths and seeking to politicise the country’s education system for political gains.
PPP/Civic Member of Parliament (MP), Kwame Gilbert, made the accusation when he spoke at a press conference recently at the party’s Freedom House headquarters on Robb Street, Georgetown.
Gilbert spoke in the context of the Opposition’s failure to recognise the accomplishments of the five Guyanese students who did “phenomenally well” by topping the Caribbean in the 2013 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.
“The PPP is appalled that, in four news-related articles emanating from members of the joint Opposition in the print media, since the announcement of these regional awards were made, none of them made mention of the awards.
“Are they afraid that, by acknowledging the academic excellence of these magnificent five, it would contradict the erroneously false misinformation they propagate and would no longer be able to refer to our education system as disastrous and calamitous?
OUTSTANDING GUYANESE
“Neither David Granger nor Khemraj Ramjattan, nor a single member of the joint Opposition, has deemed it necessary to issue a message of congratulations to these five outstanding Guyanese,” Gilbert remarked.
He said, though, that the PPP takes “great pride” in congratulating the students.
Yogeeta Persaud from Anna Regina Multilateral School was the Caribbean’s overall outstanding student with 18 grade ones. Her classmate, Zimeena Rasheed, was awarded most outstanding in technical vocation with 18 grade ones and two grade twos.
Cecil Cox of Queen’s College (QC) was awarded most outstanding in science with 16 grade ones; his fellow QC student, Sasha Woodroffe, was awarded most outstanding in business studies and Rafena Mustafa, of Saraswati Vidya Niketan Secondary School was named the most outstanding in the humanities.
The PPP also sought to pay tribute to the teachers of these students, their parents, families and education officers.
According to Gilbert, with the exception of 2010, Guyanese students have continuously secured the top performance awards in the Caribbean. “This remarkable achievement could not have been possible without the Government’s unwavering commitment to the education sector as reflected in education being allocated the largest sectoral share of resources in our national budget.”
Last year, the education budget was $26.5B and, this year, it is larger than any other ministry at $28.7B.
“Recognising the need for alternative pathways to education, this Government has embarked on an ambitious technical and vocational education training programme, building more TVET centres in areas where there was none.
“Our young people now have a better opportunity to acquire an education and a skill that will better prepare them for the workplace and the economies of tomorrow.”
Gilbert said the PPP, based on its manifesto commitments, continues to demonstrate its full support for the education sector. In keeping with this, he said the Government has included a special allocation of $50M to encourage the University of Guyana (UG) to develop online courses.
“This is all part of the progressive development strategy that the PPP has envisioned for all Guyanese, especially our youth.
“With emphasis on equality of resources and the training of teachers,” Gilbert observed that students coming from modest homes are excelling.
“ Children of farmers and labourers, woodcutters and public servants now have the same opportunity of being the recipients of national and regional awards.
“We’re seeing the results of the PPP Government’s heavy investments in the education sector. We have been able to achieve that paradigm shift of educational excellence, from the urban centre and one that was restricted to the elitists in our society in Georgetown, away to children of ordinary working-class Guyanese in every region. Guyana’s future looks bright indeed but there is still a lot of work to be done to improve grades in English and Mathematics,” Gilbert observed.
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