Developing the Education
infrastructure
The quality of education delivery has always been
one of the major focuses of the People’s Progressive Party’s
agenda for the development of this beautiful country.
Upon taking Office in 1992, the PPP/C found the Education Sector
in a state of disarray; there was evidence of low confidence in
the Education system and in teacher competency.Besides that, teaching
facilities and infrastructure were inadequate.
With this in mind the Government moved to have more teachers trained.
They also moved to improve the levels of education from preschool
to university.
Since then, the Government has been able to make substantial inputs
into the Education Sector. To begin with, increases in budgetary
allocations over the past eleven years have been phenomenal.In 1992,
the allocation was 5% of the national Budget. This has now increased
to over 17%. The budgetary allocation in 1992 was just over $1.7B.
This has now increased to $17B this year.
The Government realized that development of the education infrastructure
was essential to the success of this Sector.
The Development of Physical Infrastructure
The Government has received the support of the
Basic Education Access Management Support (BEAMS) programme. This
is a US55M Inter- American Development Bank programme to improve
school performance, develop Human Resource and Capacity development
and civil works.
Already, through BEAMS Guyana has received the professional assistance
of a literacy specialist, a testing and continuous assessment specialist
and a teacher-training specialist. Other support came from the Secondary
Schools’ Reform Project (SSRP), the Primary Education Improvement
Project (PEIP), the Guyana Education Access Programme (GEAP) and
the Social Impact Amelioration Programme (SIMAP), among others.
SSRP began with a pilot programme where 20 schools were targeted
for emergency repairs and general development of their infrastructure.
The success of this project was the deciding factor for its extension
to other schools.
Schools such as the Linden Foundation Secondary School, Anna Regina
Secondary School, Bartica Multilateral School, Port Kaituma Secondary,
Leguan Secondary and the Moleson Creek Primary Schools are among
the 800 schools repaired and built.
This vigorous development programme was extended to all Regions
of the country. This means that approximately 90% of the nations
school children are housed in much more favourable environments.
This year a number of other schools will receive special attention.
Eleven have already been targeted under the SSRP, and GEAP will
rehabilitate schools in Regions Six and Ten.
Also through SSRP, school laboratories have been improved, curricula
redesigned and more teaching materials introduced into schools.
Improving the efficiency of the Education
Sector
Headteachers and other school managers have been
selected for special training for an education Management Information
System (MIS). This along with a Schools’ Information Management
System was designed to allow for more timely reports and statistics
on any particular school.
The number of children of any school could be quickly accessed through
this programme. This, along with the MIS operable at the Education
Ministry, will allow for more efficiency between the Central Education
Ministry and Education Departments countrywide. It will also provide
a link to all schools.
Over 800 teachers were taught the how’s and why’s of
the need for 21st century technology in schools.
This was to assist teachers and students to prepare and function
effectively in the 21st century.The Ministry has also designed a
Strategic Plan (2003 – 2007) in an effort to eliminate illiteracy,
modernize education and strengthen tolerance.
Through this programme, the Ministry intends to address matters
from the quality of education to the way in which education is managed
here. This means that even the far-flung areas will be targeted
for better education delivery.
Other programmes designed for better efficiency are the revival
of moral standards campaign, the Magnet school programme, community
involvement and a school improvement reward programme.Through Project
Trust, a United Kingdom/Holland Project, a large number of volunteer
Service Teachers were contracted to serve in Hinterland locations.
These teachers serve in areas where local teachers are reluctant
to go. They focus on subjects such as Science, Mathematics and English
Language.The SSRP has also focused on the improvement of Secondary
Schools’ curricula.
Teaching Training
In formal teacher training institutions, more
than 2000 teachers have been trained over the same period.
These are teachers who successfully passed through the Cyril Potter
College of Education, in-service and pre-service.
It was the initial goal of this Government to improve teacher training
and access to training facilities. One commendable achievement was
providing access to training to Hinterland teachers. There are over
100 Hinterland teachers eligible for the certificate programme at
CPCE.
Other Programmes
The Ministry’s School Feeding programme
makes it possible for a large number of students to attend school.
These children were unable to attend school because they had nothing
to eat.Other programmes include the Moral Health and Family Life
Education Programme, Physical Education and Road Safety programmes.
The Road Safety and Physical Education components are not new, but
have been given priority because they were seen as important in
the child’s development. The moral Health programme will also
inform children on matters relating to HIV/AIDS.
In 2001, the Government made it clear that they would relentlessly
ensure that schools are rehabilitated, curricula reformed, distant
and tertiary education expanded, teacher training improved and computer
education introduced. All these were addressed over the last two
years and the Strategic Plan outlines development to the year 2007.
This testifies to the Government’s commitment to ensure that
quality education is received countrywide.
Further, recent success at the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC)
Examination speaks volumes regarding the efforts and the achievements
of this Ministry over the last eleven years.
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Monday,
September 15, 2003