Grade Six pupils across Guyana are expected to write the second set of National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) mock examinations tomorrow and Thursday.

According to Education Minister Priya Manickchand, the examination will be administered on July 7th and July 8th, and students can choose to take the exam in school or write it at home. “If they write it at home, each subject will be written one day later than the original date. This is to maintain integrity of the exam for the majority of students,” Manickchand said.

However, this is not an option for the substantive NGSA. This sitting will be the second set of examinations which the Ministry of Education is conducting to analyze students’ preparedness for the NGSA in August, Manickchand had previously said.

Over 10,000 students around the country participated in the first exams, which were conducted in June, according to data provided by Assistant Chief Education Officer Mohammed Hussain. Students had been reported to have sat the mock exams at either their school or their home. Hussain explained that information was steadily reaching the Ministry and that the figures would likely continue to rise. Of that number, some 2,493 students were absent, with 420 students being unable to sit the exam due to flooding, according to Hussain’s analysis.

The examination, which took a hybrid format, saw 9,820 students writing them in schools and 359 students sitting them from home. These exams are notably the first time in 13 months that primary-aged pupils will be attending school, with the exception of the NGSA candidates from last year. The examinations are being conducted under strict COVID-19 guidelines. Pupils, teachers and staff of each school will be sanitized and have their temperatures checked before entering the compound or classroom. During the day other sanitization exercises will take place to ensure a safe environment.

As part of the ministry’s efforts to assist parents and students to sit these examinations, each student will receive a care package containing masks, pencils, erasers, sharpeners, a ruler, hand sanitizer and vitamin support, the statement said. Teachers and support staff will also receive hand sanitizer, face masks, face shields and vitamin support.

Earlier in the year, the Ministry said it also distributed to Grade Six pupils a study package containing notes, worksheets, past papers and several textbooks. Additionally, the Ministry has initiated several online platforms to aid students with learning, such as the NGSA Booster programme, the Quiz Me platform and Whiz Kids.

Source: https://www.stabroeknews.com/2021/07/06/news/guyana/second-round-of-grade-six-mock-exams-being-held-this-week/

The Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Education will commence the handing over of the “Because We Care” cash grant and the School Uniform and Supplies Grant to children in the public school system on July 15, 2021.

The ‘Because We Care’ grant is valued at $15,000 this year and the School Uniform and Supplies Grant is valued at $4,000, giving a total of $19,000 for each child in the public education system.

Approximately 172,000 students will benefit from this programme giving a total of $3.2B going towards children and families across Guyana. Unlike last year, the school uniform and supplies grant will not be given in the form of a voucher but rather as cash.

The schedule for distribution will be posted on the Ministry of Education’s Facebook page, the ministry’s website, and in the Sunday, July 11, 2021, and later editions of the  daily newspapers. Parents or guardians of children in the public school system from nursery to secondary level are to visit the respective schools on the scheduled date to uplift the grant.

If a parent or guardian fails to uplift the grant on the scheduled date, they will be allowed to do so at a later date at the Department of Education for that Region or Education District.

This later date will be announced at the appropriate time but will be after the entire exercise is concluded so parents are encouraged to make every effort to attend on the scheduled dates.

Parents or guardians are asked to walk with a valid form of identification when going to uplift the grant. The acceptable forms of identification are the National Identification Card, Driver’s License or Passport. Persons who do not possess any of these documents can still uplift the grant but their relationship with the child must be confirmed by a senior official in the community or the school’s Headteacher.

The Ministry of Education aims to serve each child before September 2021. This initiative of the Government of Guyana is to provide assistance to families so that they can provide the necessary resources to their children so that they can not only remain in school but to also excel in their studies.

The Government of Guyana has committed to increasing the Because We Care Cash Grant incrementally each year until it reaches $50,000. The School Uniform and Supplies Grant was increased last year from $2000 to $4000, representing a 100% increase. (Ministry of Education press release)

Source: https://newsroom.gy/2021/07/10/distribution-of-3-2b-in-because-we-care-cash-grant-to-commence-next-week/

The Ministry of Education has announced that two Queen’s College students are the top performers at the 2020 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) assessments.

In a live announcement via the Ministry’s Facebook page on Friday afternoon, Education Minister Priya Manickchand said the results were based on data received from the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) as of January 29.

Manickchand said that at the CSEC level, Bhedesh Persaud has topped the country with 22 Grade Ones and one Grade Twos, while Zane Ramotar has topped at the CAPE level.

Manickchand noted that the Ministry is still awaiting reviewed results which may change the current list. She also added that there has been speculation of other top positions coming out of the country for the overall regional performance.

The following are the the top students named by the ministry this afternoon.

TOP 10 STUDENTS FOR CSEC 2020

1. Bhedesh Persaud – Queen’s College – 22 grade ones, one grade two
2. Duvina Seurattan – Anna Regina Secondary School – 19 grade ones, two grade twos
3. Swasti Saytoo – Anna Regina Secondary School – 18 grade one, three grade twos
4. Geveshwar Rajkishore – Saraswati Vidya Nikitan – 18 grade ones, one grade two
5. Reyan Khemraj – JC Chandisingh Secondary School – 17 grade ones, three grade twos
6. Shivnarine Chaitraim – Saraswati Vidya Nikitan – 17 grade ones, two grade twos
7. Shivshankar Chaitram – Saraswati Vidya Nikitan – 17 grade ones, two grade twos
8. Atishta Seenarine – Saraswati Vidya Nikitan – 17 grade ones, one grade two
9. Chaitra Singh – Saraswati Vidya Nikitan – 16 grade ones, three grade twos
10. Tabitha Alves – Abrams’ Zuil Secondary School – 16 grade ones, four grade twos

TOP THREE STUDENTS FOR CAPE 2020 

1. Zane Ramotar – Queen’s College
2. Naomi Cambridge – St Rose’s High
3. Christian Pile – Queen’s College

Source: https://www.stabroeknews.com/2021/04/23/news/guyana/qc-boys-top-csec-cape-results/

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, on Thursday commissioned a Smart Classroom at the Leonora Secondary School in Region Three, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara.

Minister Manickchand said that she was extremely happy about the occasion since it is the first Smart Classroom to be commissioned in Region Three. She noted, however, that soon additional smart classrooms will be installed at other identified schools in the region such as the West Demerara Secondary School and the Parika-Salem Secondary School and Leguan Secondary School.

She said that the education sector must continue to cater to the needs of the various generations of students. Minister Manickchand explained that such a facility is important not only to the school but to other schools around the country that do not have a smart classroom as yet.

She said that in cases where some schools do not have a specialist teacher in a particular subject area, a teacher from the Leonora Secondary School can assist those students by conducting lessons virtually without having to travel to the other school that needs his or her tutelage.

Minister Manickchand said that teachers will be trained to use the facility. She said that there have been many initiatives to incorporate Information Technology (IT) into the classroom but not many of those projects were taken seriously enough to put the education sector in a position to deliver education online when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

However, she commended those teachers that stepped up to the challenge during the pandemic and managed to teach their students virtually. She said that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused the Ministry of Education to regroup and ensure that systems are put in place to have as many children as possible engaged during this time.

Regional Chairman of Region Three, Ishan Ayube said that he is happy that the education sector has a Minister who is delivering progress according to the Government’s policy.

He said that the teachers and students need to grasp the opportunity and utilise the facility to its fullest. He said that the Regional Democratic Council will work assiduously to ensure programs and policies are being executed in the region in an accountable manner.

Regional Education Officer of Region Three, Devindra Persaud, said that the smart classroom has come at a time when the region needs such a facility. He assured those in attendance that the classroom will be taken care of and used for its intended purpose.

He said that the smart classroom will not only enhance the way teachers teach but also how students learn.

Systems Development Coordinator, Godfrey Munroe, said that there are unlimited possibilities with utilising the smart classroom. He said that the facility will allow for technology-infused learning. According to Mr. Munroe, teachers of all subject areas can use the classroom to their advantage.

He said that it is a great opportunity and that the Management Information Systems Unit (MISU) of the Ministry of Education will continue to work with the school to ensure the facility is used efficiently.

Following the ceremonial commissioning, attendees were treated to a demonstration as to how the smart classroom will work.

Just last week, the Ministry of Education commissioned smart classrooms at the Brickdam Secondary School and the East Ruimveldt Secondary School. All classrooms will have an interactive board, a television that allows teachers and students to connect remotely, and motion and voice-activated cameras complete with a face recognition feature.

Source: https://newsroom.gy/2021/04/02/first-smart-classroom-in-reg-3-commissioned-at-the-leonora-secondary-school/

Teachers who are first-time homeowners will be able to access up to $12 million from a revolving fund set up by the Ministry of Education; the funds can be used to aid with their mortgages.

This was announced by Education Specialist at the Ministry of Education, Olato Sam on Wednesday. Sam was speaking at the launch of the Teachers’ and Welfare Support Programme at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.

There, teachers were introduced to the menu of benefits they are expected to receive since more than 150 business entities signed up to provide some discounts, vouchers or relief to teachers in all regions of Guyana.

Some of these benefits include discounts on travel in Guyana by plane or buses, vouchers for clothing and footwear businesses and health insurance packages for teachers and their children. It is expected that more businesses will join the programme.

Importantly, however, Sam also announced: “… teachers who are first time home owners can access from $2 million to $12 million for their mortgages.”

This, he said, will be done through a revolving fund. Essentially, a revolving fund is one that is continuously replenished as withdrawals are made. Sam did not provide additional details on the fund.

Later, Minister of Education Priya Manickchand explained that this revolving fund is separate from the teachers’ housing fund, which was established to allow teachers of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) to access interest-free loans to build their homes.

Currently, that housing fund stands at about $200 million. But, Manickchand said that the funds are “parked in an account” because the teachers’ union has not been able to find an agency to manage the funds.

It was reported previously that the union was experiencing challenges with the administration of the fund.

Source: https://newsroom.gy/2021/09/16/some-teachers-can-get-up-to-12m-for-their-mortgages-through-revolving-fund/

Guyanese students will soon be able to access online tertiary programmes from six universities when the Ministry of Education (MoE) launches the National Open Learning Institute at the end of this month.

According to Director (pro tempore) Dr Jacob Opadeyi, the institute will launch with an offer of 4,540 scholarship placements at Universities such as the Indira Gandhi Open University, the University of Applied Science in Germany, the Open University in the UK and the University of the West Indies Open Campus. The intention is for those granted the placements to begin classes in July.

Speaking with the Sunday Stabroek, Opadeyi, a former University of Guyana (UG) Vice Chancellor, said that over the last few months he has been involved in negotiations to facilitate access to online tertiary education for Guyanese in part as a direct response to travel restrictions created by COVID-19.

He explained that the named Universities have concluded arrangements with the Guyana Government while another two are in the final stage of negotiations to offer programmes related to the oil and gas sector.

Minister of Education Priya Manickchand told the Sunday Stabroek in a recent interview that these programmes are a direct reaction to needs

“This is not the same as having Zoom classes or classes moved online due to COVID-19, these are programmes designed to be executed virtually and, therefore, resources, including library resources, are accessible to students,” she stressed.

According to Manickchand, while her Ministry is working with the University of Guyana and the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) to have their programmes moved online, they will not have the capacity to absorb the large enrollment envisioned. 

“How many students can I enroll at UG and CPCE right now? I need hundreds of teachers right now. If someone from Region 8 wants to answer the call for teachers and enroll at CPCE, can they access the programme where they are?” she asked.

Manickchand explained that the former Chief Education Officer Olato Sam, who has returned to the Ministry as an Education Specialist, is spearheading the project to move CPCE online.

Opadeyi, meanwhile, is doing an “amazing job” in shaping the Open Learning Institute, she said, while adding “It has been a joy to work with Dr Opadeyi.”

The former UG Vice Chancellor explained to this newspaper that the programmes offered will not only touch on a variety of sectors but run the gamut from undergraduate certificates to Bachelor’s Degrees, post-graduate diplomas and Master’s Degrees, all designed to be completed online.

Distinction

“We are making a distinction with programmes designed to be completed online versus those which are being administered online due to COVID-19…it is going to radically change Guyana’s education landscape because we are looking at people in Region 1, Region 8 or Region 9 being able to study without leaving their home or workplace. We are looking at people who are in Georgetown, such as police officers or immigration officers who can have all their material on laptops [and] when they are off duty they can read their work and complete their programme wherever they are,” Opadeyi said.

He added that the institute will have a staff of 20 and potential students will register for programmes through the institute.

“Our institute will manage the academic programme, the examinations and all of that and the Ministry of Public Service will handle the award of scholarships”, he said.

Additionally persons without a government scholarship can still access the programmes as the general public will benefit from the volume discount which has been secured by the government.

“For example a degree programme offered at a negotiated price of US$1,000 will be offered at that price to those who get scholarships and those who don’t so if you do not get the scholarship and you can afford the fee you are open to register with us and pay the fee,” Opadeyi advised.

He shared that so far government has been able to secure a 45% discount on tuition fees from UWI once they can ensure enrollment of 150 persons per programme.

The University of Applied Science in Germany, which is offering a Bachelors’ Degree in robotics as well as engineering and management, is offering an 80% discount on their courses. The same university is offered Masters programmes in big data management and engineering management. 

Questions were raised in November last year when the University of the West Indies announced that it was working with the Guyana Government to offer 20,000 scholarships over five years through the UWI Open Campus. UWI is now only one of several universities that the government will use.

UWI Vice-Chancellor Sir Hilary Beckles had said “This is as exciting as anything we have done in any region in the world, because we are on the margin of one of the largest societies, one of the biggest economies and, arguably, one of the most dynamic going forward.”

The UWI announcement had raised questions about why the University of Guyana appeared to have been sidelined in the process.

UG in a subsequent press release said that as the national brain trust, “supplying over 70% of graduates to Guyana and 30% exports”, it wished to assure that it was in preliminary talks on online education and scholarships.   

“The national University has not ceded its mandate and responsibilities and UG is now offering more than 1000 courses online as part of `The University of Guyana Blueprint 2040’ strategy framework”, the release said.  

The government had, however, contended that UG was not able at this point to enable the large and varied number of scholarships it envisaged.

Source: https://www.stabroeknews.com/2021/02/07/news/guyana/govt-to-offer-4540-online-scholarships-at-six-universities/?amp

A new nursery school with modern amenities, which will also accommodate facilities for persons living with disabilities, will be constructed at Martyrs’ Ville, on the East Coast of Demerara.

The sod-turning ceremony for the $89 million project was held on Tuesday; once completed, the school will assist with the overcrowding at the Mon Repos Nursery school as it will be able to accommodate some 270 children.

Parents told the News Room that they have to walk the one mile to access the Mon Repos Nursery and so they are happy with the construction of the new school.

“We are much grateful so our kids don’t have to walk far to the other nursery school. I have my own car, but normally kids does be walking, so if I pass by I does stop and give them a drop, so this is a better opportunity with the school opening at the back here,” Priya Ramdhari explained.

Another resident, Sandra Pitambar said once the school is completed, her granddaughter will be transferred.

“She normally walks and sometimes we take taxi, we would like her to be here because we live in the same street. I am happy for the children and I am so excited about it,” Pitambar stated.

The school is expected to be completed within eight months and will also include a vast playground for the children.  The contract to construct the school was awarded to Doodnauth Construction and Supplies, but the project will be managed by the ministry’s engineering department.

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, during remarks, said that while nursery education is not compulsory in Guyana, there is a high enrollment rate of over 80 per cent.

“That tells us that Guyanese parents take their children’s education very seriously. We insist not only will you have a comfortable classroom to sit but you will receive a quality education when you get there,” the Education Minister said.

Also present at the ceremony was Attorney-General and Minister of Leagl Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC, who stated that with two new housing schemes being developed in the area, the new school is essential for the community.

Nandlall further stated that the singular access road to Martyrs’ Ville is now inadequate and as such, a new access road will soon be constructed.

“I should tell you as well that we are building an access road that will provide a new access to Agriculture Road from the most southern part of Martyrs’ Ville, a road that vehicles can use with a bridge,” Nandlall said.

Source: https://newsroom.gy/2021/02/09/89m-nursery-school-for-martyrs-ville/

The review process being conducted by the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) 2020 results is further delayed due to a lockdown in Barbados. The CXC Headquarters is based in Barbados.

Minister Manickchand was hoping to announce the results on Wednesday.

These exams were written in July/August 2020 but after CXC released the preliminary results in September, there was a region-wide outcry about a number of discrepancies hence the review process.

A total of 12,009 students were registered to write the CSEC exams from Guyana with a total of 70, 710 entries in various subject areas. Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand during a press conference on Wednesday revealed that the review process for Guyana is now at 90 per cent.

She said it would be premature to announce the top students at this time, noting that students’ grades which are yet to be reviewed can change the overall outcome.

“A check of the pending reviews showed a number of candidates could receive review changes that may likely affect the list of candidates with the highest number of grade ones,” Minister Manickchand said.

A total of 1, 258 reviews were submitted to CXC by 500 CSEC students; 128 students are still waiting for their reviews to be processed. It was noted that grade changes were awarded to 456 reviews while 674 grades remain the same.

“You would think in ordinary circumstances they would have taken just a few weeks to finish the four per cent outstanding and to give us our entire 100 per cent result. They are affected by the lockdown that is happening there and it is not something we can be unsympathetic to. The world is in this pandemic right now so that is what is being uncertain, so I can’t say when and they can’t say when they are going to finish,” the Education Minister stated.

According to Manickchand, a lot of students would need the certificates from CXC to move on to tertiary education both at the local and international level.

As such, CXC has been in talks with universities to explain the situation while the universities would have also waived entry requirements as a result of the pandemic.

“Students have begun to receive some certificates especially at the CAPE level from CXC so that they can use those internationally to assess tertiary education but it has really affected persons mentally,” the minister said.

Source: https://newsroom.gy/2021/02/10/cxc-review-further-delays-announcement-of-top-csec-cape-students/

Queen’s College has been recognised as the School of the Year for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), at the Caribbean Examinations Council’s 2020 awards ceremony held in Antigua and Barbuda.

Guyana was the recipient of seven awards at the CSEC and CAPE levels during the event. These include the most outstanding CSEC student, awarded to Bhedesh Persaud of Queen’s College, and the most outstanding CAPE candidate awarded to Zane Ramotar, also of Queen’s College. The achievement of these students caused Queen’s College to be recognized as the school of the year at both levels. Queen’s College has been the recipient of the CSEC/CAPE award for the most outstanding performer overall for seven consecutive years.

Persaud secured 22 Grade I passes at CSEC in Additional Mathematics, General Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Human and Social Biology, Integrated Science, Agricultural Science, Geography, Principles of Accounts, Principles of Business, Economics, Office Administration, Spanish, Portuguese, Religious Education, Information Technology, Electronic Document Preparation and Management, Technical Drawing, Physical Education and Sport, and English A and B. He attained a Grade II pass in Social Studies.

Ramotar secured 14 Grade I passes in Applied Mathematics Unit 1, Biology Units 1 & 2, Caribbean Studies, Chemistry Units 1 & 2, Communication Studies, Environmental Science Units 1 & 2, Integrated Mathematics Unit 1, Physics Units 1 & 2, and Pure Mathematics Units 1 & 2. He also got a Grade II in Applied Mathematics Unit 2.

Ramotar, who is also the holder of the Most Outstanding in Natural Sciences award at the CAPE level, used the forum to thank the ministries, parents, and teachers, who he said played an integral role in “revitalising the education sector” which in turn aided students to remain engaged amidst the hurdles brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted that “despite many trials and tribulations brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, we as a region have done our best in overcoming the bad days and succeeding all our endeavours.”

Other awards won by Guyana include Most Outstanding in Sciences, which was won by Persaud. Most Outstanding in Business was won by Nyron Seoukienandan of St Rose’s High School who secured Grade I passes in Economics, Office Administration, Principles of Business, Principles of Accounts, Electronic Document and Preparation Management, English A, English B, Integrated Science, Mathematics, and Social Studies and Grade II passes in Spanish and Additional Mathematics.

Emerging from New Amsterdam Secondary School was the Most Outstanding in Technical and Vocational Studies awardee, Anthony Sukra, who secured Grade I passes in Information Technology, Technical Drawing, Industrial Technology, Electrical Mechanical and Building, Chemistry, English A, English B, Geography, and Mathematics and Physics. Guyana also tied with Trinidad and Tobago for Most Outstanding in Principles of Accounts award. This was presented to Shania Sattaur of Brickdam Secondary School and Joe Wootten of Trinidad and Tobago.

Guyana recorded a 76% pass rate overall in Grades I to III at the General and Technical proficiencies at CSEC for 2020. This is an improved pass rate as compared to 73% recorded in 2019.

Source: https://www.stabroeknews.com/2021/06/04/news/guyana/cxc-names-qc-school-of-the-year-for-csec-cape/

Secondary school students along the Essequibo Coast and the Pomeroon will no longer have to leave their homes to travel to Georgetown to write their Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE).

The Anna Regina Secondary School has become the first in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) to offer CAPE subjects to students who have completed the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC).

Minister of Education Priya Manickchand travelled to the region on Friday to officially launch the progamme at the school

She said the move is in keeping with the government’s vision of ensuring every child across the length and breadth of Guyana, has access to education.

“We are moving closer and closer to universal secondary education.

“That means that children all across the country could access a secondary school, but even as we work for access to secondary education, we know we have the ability to simultaneously expand what we are doing at the secondary schools, and so today, it gives me great pleasure to commission a CAPE or sixth form school, a Grade 12 school at the Anna Regina Multilateral, which is the first of its kind in Region Two.”

Currently, there are five students enrolled in the classes. The subjects being offered are Integrated Mathematics, Communication Studies, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Teachers who will be conducting the classes have been adequately trained.

“I want to say very clearly, that the teachers are trained…These are teachers who are capable of teaching these particular subjects, science subjects in this case. We have labs, we have material, we have chemicals, we have reagents, we have classrooms, we have the facilities that allow these children to have a quality experience here.”

Speaking to DPI, the students were elated to be able to continue their studies without having to leave their homes.

Tiffany Budhram said before it was announced that CAPE subjects will be offered in the region, she had not considered writing the exams. However, she said she was excited to further her studies.

Her father, Rabinauth Budhram said he was happy with the decision to have the subjects offered within the region as he was not comfortable sending his teenage daughter all the way to Georgetown to complete her studies.

“I feel very much secure having her and having CAPE being done right here in Region Two…I think it was long overdue at the Anna Regina Secondary, and of course, I am quite elated for it to happen, as it has, this year.”

The teachers at Anna Regina Secondary have assured that they will put their efforts towards ensuring the students receive quality education.

Next week, Minister Manickchand will be launching the programme at the West Demerara Secondary School making it the first in Region Three. (DPI)

Source: https://newsroom.gy/2021/12/04/no-more-travelling-as-anna-regina-secondary-offering-cape-for-reg-2-students/