Minister of Education Priya Manickchand on Thursday met with the principal and senior staff members of the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) to discuss the institution’s readiness to accommodate pre-service teachers in the dorms.

From Sunday, some 92 first-year students from Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine will be staying at the Turkeyen Campus as they complete their first year of studies and prepare for their year which starts in September.

During the meeting, it was assured that all systems are in place to accommodate the students over the next few months.

Also discussed was the expansion of the college’s capacity to train more teachers from the next academic year which starts in September.

Present during the meeting were Chief Education Officer, Dr Marcel Hutson, Education Specialist Dr Olato Sam, Deputy Chief Education Officer – Development, Ms Volika Jaikishun, Director of School Boards, Mr Deonarine Hardat and Chief Inspectorate, Mr Saadam Hussain. (Ministry of Education press release)

Source: https://newsroom.gy/2022/06/10/cpce-set-to-re-open-dorms/

The Ministry of Education on Wednesday fulfilled another promise by the Government of Guyana with the commencement of the distribution of brand-new textbooks to all primary school children in the public system.

The textbooks cover each core subject area, Mathematics, English Language, Science and Social Studies.

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand visited the No. 48 Primary School and the Corriverton Primary Schools in the East Berbice Corentyne region (Region Six) where she distributed the textbooks and underscored the importance of each child having access to their own textbook.

She highlighted that it is the government’s aim to ensure that there is equitable access to educational resources to every pupil and gone are the days when only a handful of pupils were privileged to own textbooks.

“We have gone out and we have looked at each book, we have looked at what causes or helps to bring about success and we have bought those for every single child. So it’s not the wealthy children alone who can do well, it’s not the children in private school alone who will get the resources, it’s not the parents who have fancy jobs, it is every single child.”

Minister Manickchand also spoke to parents about the importance of caring for them so that other pupils can benefit from the investment over the years.

Parents are required to sign a contract promising to ensure that the books are well-kept and returned at the end of the school year.

Failure to return the books will result in children being unable to receive other books in other grades to take home and even unable to benefit from the “Because We Care” cash grant for the new school year.

Over the coming weeks, thousands of pupils from Grades One through Six in every region of Guyana will receive their textbooks. (Ministry of Education press release)

Source: https://newsroom.gy/2022/03/03/textbooks-for-every-public-primary-school-pupil-secondary-to-receive-within-months/

A promise was made to the residents of the Martyr’s Ville Community on the East Coast of Demerara that a nursery school will be built in the community to relieve parents of the burden of taking their children to the Mon Repos Nursery School and the Good Hope Nursery School which are located further away.

The completion of the school will also serve to eliminate the overcrowding at the other two schools. The school was opened on September 5, 2022, the first day of the school term and was officially commissioned today by Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand in the company of the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC, Regional Chairman, Mr. Daniel Seeram and other senior officers within the Ministry of Education and the Regional Administration.

Minister Manickchand said today that Guyanese should always expect her Government to deliver on its promises and that the construction of the school is another example of fulfilling a promise that was made to the people of Guyana and specifically the residents of Martyrs’ Ville.

She said that the Government of Guyana believes in investing heavily in the education sector and that this includes constructing facilities where there are needed to ensure access to quality education.

Minister Manickchand reminded the teachers that were present today that Region Four produced one of the students who tied for the top spot at this year’s National Grade Six Assessment, Neuel Bancroft from the Annandale Primary School. She said that in addition to parental support and natural brilliance, the student had to be surrounded by great teachers from nursery school up to Grade Six. She congratulated all teachers and urged those present today to take stock of what their responsibilities are and to ensure that they properly educate their pupils since a solid nursery foundation is important.

The Education Minister also appealed to the parents present today and explained to them that one common thread running through the stories of successful students is the support they receive from parents. “We are asking for your partnership. This means having a deep interest in your children’s education. When we get partnerships right we will see children excelling in ways we didn’t imagine,” Minister Manickchand remarked.

Further, she said that the Government of Guyana promises that children will continue to receive support such as cash grants, meals and textbooks among other benefits. He said that for the first time in the history of the country all Grade Six children will receive breakfast  daily. She said Grade Five and Six children are receiving all the textbooks they need free of cost and shortly after all primary school children will receive all the textbooks they need for free.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall also thanked teachers for their hard work and saluted on behalf of the Government for a job well done.

On the topic of the new school, he said that less than three decades ago the land on which the edifice stands was a cow pasture. He enlightened those present today that he had attended nursery school in the community which was a ‘bottom house’.

He said that it is important that the transformation that has taken place and continues to occur must be appreciated. He said that there are many more projects slated for the region including a modern hospital at Enmore, new water treatment plants at Friendship/Buxton, Bachelor’s Adventure and Mahaica and an industrial complex where the Enmore Estate factory was which will create jobs.

He said that these projects and more are being done to create a better country and future for the young children coming up.

Regional Chairman, Daniel Seeram described the school as a blessing to the community and the region since it will offset the overcrowding at the Mon Repos Nursery and the Good Hope Nursery School.

Assistant Chief Education Officer (Nursery), Mr. Devendre Persaud said that it is the commitment of the Government and the Ministry of Education to provide education for all Guyanese whether they live in the city or rural communities and that Martyrs’ Ville Nursery is a testimony of such commitment.

Regional Education Officer, Ms. Stembiso Grant said that the school adds to the list of 58 nursery schools in the region. She said the school is currently staffed with 98% trained teachers. She thanked the Ministry of Education for conceptualizing the project and bring to fruition to improve access and delivery of education at the nursery level. (Modified Ministry of Education press release)

Source: https://newsroom.gy/2022/09/10/no-more-overcrowding-as-89m-martyrs-ville-nursery-school-opens/

The Ministry of Education on Saturday said it has already located at least 538 students who were absent from schools for the recent National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) mock exams through the launch of its countrywide ‘Operation Recovery’ campaign.

According to the Ministry, Education Officers conducted visits across 538 homes in regions One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Nine and Ten, where these students where located.

Reports had yet to be received from officers in regions Seven and Eight, the ministry added.

During a phone interview yesterday, Minister of Education Priya Manickchand told Sunday Stabroek that some 1,300 grade six pupils did not return to school to sit the NGSA mock exams. She reminded that the Ministry has allowed school attendance during the COVID-19 pandemic to be optional but children who are kept at home have to continue their studies with the guidance of parents or guardians. But with the 1,300 absentees recorded for the mock exams, the ministry has started a programme to track down these students and have them return to the school system.

Manickchand said that the ministry decided to check to see whether these students are being homeschooled or still have the option of schooling in their homes.

On Thursday, the education Ministry announced the launch of ‘Operation Recovery’ within the 11 Education Districts to find pupils who have been continuously absent since school re-started and those who have missed the recent NGSA mock examination.

In a release, the Ministry explained that the initiative would see the involvement of Education Officers from the Central Ministry and within the Education Districts along with regional officials and community activists fanning out into communities to locate these pupils.

It said the Ministry would be assessing how it could assist the students with returning to school.

Manickchand told this newspaper that during a visit to Region Three on Friday, she met with many parents and students who had varying reasons for the absenteeism. Manickchand said that the ministry learnt that some students did not leave the education system but rather entered the private school system. She said that others have migrated to either foreign countries or they moved from one district to another. She said that these students were tracked down by help of the schools, which provided names and addresses. The ministry then carried out the task of searching.

Other students were absent because of circumstances at home, including the ailment of parents or guardians, causing the pupils to leave school to look after their family members. She shared that in one instance, a student shared that his grandmother was sick and could not afford to send him to school. Some cannot leave younger siblings alone at home because their parents have to work. A student told the Ministry that he could not go to school because he babysits his younger siblings while his parents were at work. Others have financial constraints which hinder their ability to reach to school.

Manickchand said that the Ministry is working to understand each situation and offer a solution that will see the students returning to school. She added that in some cases the students were actually pulled out of school because of negligence on the parent’s part. She said that some parents have not been as observant or showed care for the pupils to be in the classrooms. These cases are also being assessed.

In announcing the results of its efforts thus far on Saturday, the Education Ministry said in a  statement that the required assistance and access to welfare officers has since been provided for some students, while the ones who said they couldn’t attend school because they were sick, will be returning to the classrooms. 

The Ministry previously said that scientific data gathered from studies done in countries around the world show that the long school closures resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic will lead to an increased rate of school dropouts and tremendous learning loss, unless countries take urgent, practical measures to mitigate against it.

It also noted that the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) predicts that unless practical measures are taken urgently this generation could lose more than 17 trillion dollars in earnings in their lifetime, have their academic growth stunted and their mental health severely affected. As a result, the Ministry said it remains committed to keeping school doors open and having as many pupils back in school. Some measures that the ministry believes will mitigate against the predicted loss of students includes teaching and learning from a consolidated curriculum, the provision of textbooks, re-training of teachers, using technology in the classroom and ‘Operation Recovery.’

According to Manickchand, the new initiative is sort of like an expanded welfare programme. She said that the system they hope to create is one where if a teacher notices that a student is absent for five consecutive days, they report this to the head teacher, who then informs the Regional Education Officer, and the student is then found and an investigation into the absence is carried out. She was confident that solutions can be found between the parents and the ministry to ensure that these students’ education is not obscured because of the pandemic and other social reasons.

Further, Manickchand expressed gratitude to individuals, religious organisations, non-governmental organizations and other bodies who have reached out to the ministry to help in achieving its goal of getting every student back into schools. The Minister noted that ‘Operation Recovery’ will be an ongoing exercise and organised partnerships with said bodies are underway.

Chief Education Officer Dr. Marcel Hutson added that the primary education is a fundamental level and the new campaign is not an attack on parents but a way to ensure that students get access to a sound education.

Source: https://www.stabroeknews.com/2022/02/27/news/guyana/new-anti-absenteeism-campaign-locates-538-students/

Pupils across the country have been preparing for the upcoming National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) but some 700 pupils were absent from the second ‘mock examination’ held in May, Education Minister Priya Manickchand said.

Ahead of the annual NGSA, which will be held on July 6 and 7, the Ministry of Education has organised two mock examinations to help teachers assess children’s readiness.

Manickchand, at the sidelines of an event on Wednesday, related that more than 700 children were absent from the second preparatory examination which was held on May 11 and 12.

“But it is not very different from pre-COVID numbers,” the Education Minister added, noting that the attendance rate recorded since schools have reopened is about 86 per cent.

She, however, noted that this was a sizable reduction from the number of children absent during the first examination.

After the first preparatory examination, which was held in February, the ministry reported that there were some 1,300 pupils absent.

This prompted the launch of a new programme known as ‘Operation Recovery’ where the education ministry and stakeholders have been attempting to help return children to schools.

Manickchand told reporters that this programme will be intensified from September, when faith-based and non-governmental organsiations will assist the ministry in getting children back into schools.

Based on reports globally, the COVID-19 pandemic and the protracted closure of schools have resulted in learning losses including school dropouts. A recent World Bank report stated that the lower-than-optimal levels of educational engagement suggest “severe learning losses and an increase in drop-out rates.”

Further, the report noted that these learning losses and dropout rates have “grave implications” for the accumulation of human capital in countries.

Manickchand noted that the ministry is striving to curtail these losses.

Source: https://newsroom.gy/2022/06/22/some-700-pupils-absent-from-second-grade-six-mock-exam/

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand yesterday led a consultation  aimed at strengthening special education teaching.

A release from the ministry said that Manickchand disclosed that a special pathway programme will commence in September at the CPCE to train those interested in becoming Special Education Needs (SEN) teachers.

The consultation was held in the Conference Centre at the Cyril Potter College (CPCE) of Education’s Turkeyen Campus.

The release said that the purpose of the consultation was to hear from teachers within this specific area about what they believe the Ministry can do to improve the SEN sector in terms of delivery and the needs of students and teachers.

Manickchand said that SEN cannot be ignored and that it is an area that the Ministry as well as the government feel strongly about.

The release said that the teachers raised several points about how the system for SEN students and teachers can be improved at the various institutions and nationally.

Manickchand told the educators that the Ministry is genuine about moving the sector forward and that this cannot be done without their contribution. She said that she believes that the Ministry is on a strong platform to move the sector forward.

Source: https://www.stabroeknews.com/2022/06/15/news/guyana/ministry-homes-in-on-special-education/

A total of 421 students are displaced following a fire of unknown origin that ravaged the historic St George’s High School in Georgetown on Wednesday. 

Education Minister Priya Manickchand along with Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn visited the scene as the fire raged.  Both ministers described the destruction of the school as a heartbreaking loss for not only for the present but past and future students.

“Any school that is destroyed by anything is an extremely big blow…this is a secondary school in the middle of Georgetown. It’s going to affect a large number of persons. It is extremely saddening to watch.

“Particularly in and around Georgetown, space can be a serious issue for us; this is very heartbreaking,” Manickchand told reporters on the scene.

Further, the minister said, “It’s a major issue because we are seeing a greater retention rate and more students are coming in or staying in because of various pathways.”

Manickchand explained that the Ministry was interested in the school because of the many TVET classes offered there but now the school is destroyed.

The Home Affairs Minister also acknowledged that the destroyed school, which was built during the 1800s, is a huge blow to the country’s landmark.

“It would be one of the oldest schools in the country in terms of the building, it would have been related to the St George’s Cathedral itself”

“It is certainly a loss to the landmark, to the architecture, and of course to those students – past and present – who have attended the school,” he said.

When the News Room arrived on the scene at around 14:00 hrs, at least three fire trucks and multiple firefighters were attempting to contain the fire. The fire had already spread from the upper flat of the school and the lower parts were engulfed in flames. In an attempt to stop the fire from destroying the wooden entire structure, firefighters tried to douse the outer parts of the building with water.

Dozens of bystanders gathered along Church Street and North Road to observe the firefighters as they battled the flames.

A teacher and students were inside the school when the fire erupted at around 13:30 hrs. The fire quickly engulfed the upper half of the wooden structure before it spread and eventually destroyed the building.

According to the guard of the school, smoke was seen coming from the front of the school, and persons inside were immediately alerted.

The Education Minister was observing markers of the NGSA exam papers when she received the call about the fire. She said the displaced students would have to be catered for.

“It is too soon to decide where the learners will be relocated to for the commencement of the new school year in September,” the minister said. However, she explained that all the students might not be relocated to the same school because of space. Students will have to be sent to different schools.

Meanwhile, Benn told reporters that the investigators will have to examine the cause of the fire.

“We just heard that the school was on fire, and at the same time that I got the call from the Fire Service; their assets were already rolling past the Ministry (on Brickdam) going to respond. By then I was told that there were five assets out there,” Benn stated.

Source: https://newsroom.gy/2022/07/20/421-students-displaced-after-fire-destroys-st-georges-high-school/

Minister of Education Priya Manickchand has announced that some 100 teachers will receive duty-free concessions soon while scholarships will be extended to teachers who want to attend the University of Guyana.

“We are offering to teachers more than just the salary, uniform allowance, scholarships to go to the University of Guyana. They are non-salary benefits that we hope can add to the package,” Manickchand said.

These scholarships will be directly from the government. However, she also noted that more than 100 teachers are currently being trained under the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL).

While making the announcement, the minister also warned the teachers that they are therefore being held accountable for properly educating the children of the country.

Notably, the Minister said that more persons are applying to become teachers with the largest batch of trained teachers to graduate from the Cyril Potter College of Education in January. This was possible through the hybrid format, which saw participants undergo classes both in person and online.

Source: https://newsroom.gy/2022/11/18/for-teachers-100-duty-free-concessions-ug-scholarships-among-other-benefits/

Teachers who will be pursuing their Bachelor of Education degrees will no longer need to apply for release forms to attend classes as the University of Guyana (UG) will now offer classes outside of the normal teaching hours.

Minister of Education Priya Manickchand announced on her Facebook page that from September 2022, all classes for the degree in Education will be held outside of school hours.

Release forms, as they are commonly called, were special forms granted to teachers who were pursuing their degrees. These forms allowed teachers to attend classes at the university during teaching hours.

Through these forms, teachers were required to indicate the specific days and times that they were scheduled to attend classes. Lecturers and/or tutors were expected to sign these forms, which would then be presented to Education Ministry officials.

Meanwhile, Minister Manickchand also alluded to a new solution being crafted for teachers who attended UG without these release forms.

Source: https://newsroom.gy/2022/04/25/no-more-release-forms-needed-for-teachers-to-attend-ug/

In the event of any situation that can cause children to return to remote learning, the education minister says those students can be assured that plans are in place to ensure they remain engaged.

During the ministry’s weekly Education Spotlight programme, Minister Priya Manickchand said the ministry, through its risk management policy launched in 2021, has implemented this precautionary measure.

“When COVID hit we realise this is something we need to do, we need to immediately develop a system that would be resilient to these types of shocks.

“Right now, the Ministry of Education has work sheets that we can roll out anytime there is any kinds of disasters, floods… any disaster we could give work sheets immediately, we could print immediately, we have these television shows backed in the cloud, we could push those out immediately,” the minister said on Wednesday evening.

She explained soon every home will soon be able to access the learning channel, therefore assuring that in the event of any school disruptions, children will remain engaged.

“We are currently trying to make sure every home can access the Guyana Learning Channel and a new radio station dedicated to education called Ed You.

“The Guyana Learning Channel is going to be for the first time in the history of this country available to all communities including Amerindian and hinterland communities, riverain communities,” she added.

Manickchand said the government is setting up in every community, a television set, solar power and satellite. In addition, the radio is accessible for students remain engaged.

The Minister explained that when the pandemic reared its head in Guyana, the Education Ministry moved quickly to close schools and shifted to remote learning. This move presented a challenge as many communities, especially in the hinterland and riverain areas, could not access digital learning.

While not specific to only COVID-19, the new policy was born out of the realisation that the country – like many others – was not ready for the disruption brought on by the pandemic.

This national risk management policy, a first of its kind, is a response to such an event including disasters such as fires, oil spills, drought, pollution, pandemics, and other natural and human-made hazards that constantly threaten the stability of the education system all across the world.

Source: https://newsroom.gy/2022/08/04/education-ministry-prepared-for-future-disruptions-to-face-to-face-schooling/