– ‘We have matched our vision to the allocations in the sector’, says Minister Manickchand

GUYANA’s education sector, taking the lion’s share of the 2014 Budget ($32.3 billion), has consistently made advances, but there is much more to do, according to subject Minister, Priya Manickchand.In the National Assembly, yesterday, she noted that focus on Guyana’s children not only makes them better than their parents were and improves their lives, but prepares them to take the reins of leadership in the country.

QUOTE: “If the Opposition leaders don’t work with us, we will work with their constituents, as we have been doing anyway” – Minister Manickchand

She made it clear that anything that takes away from this is like robbing Guyana’s youths of a better life, robbing their families of a better life, and goes against the promises made to them by the current Administration, as well as the Opposition.
She stressed that there is no doubt that there has been a transformation of the local education sector, transformations that are clearly evident by the achievement of universal primary education, the moves being made to reach universal secondary education, and the outstanding and record-breaking performances of Guyanese students compared to other countries in the Caribbean Region, among others.

The Education Minister stated that in 1991 the pass rate at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams was 21 per cent and it has been increased over the last two decades to 29 per cent in 1995, 46 per cent in 2000, 60 per cent in 2005 and 66 per cent in 2010.
She added that out of eight regional awards given by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), Guyana brought home five last year, including best overall student, an award Guyana has been bringing back since 2006.
“We’re going for the others,” the Minister stressed.

Manickchand underscored the fact that the ruling party’s ideology, as it relates to the transformational impact of education, is evidenced in its policies.
“We have matched our vision to the allocations in the sector…with investments come growth,” she declared.

VALUE FOR MONEY
Opposition APNU Chief Whip and Shadow Education Minister, Amna Ally, had a contrary view of the moves in the education sector and called the allocations a “spend and hope” approach.
According to her, yesterday, the budget is a highly politicised document and it is a “repair and maintenance schedule”, not a developmental plan, nor is it something to solve problems of masses.
Ally stated that while the Government boasts that Budget 2014 is the largest budget ever, the “greatest worry” is that despite the larger input, Guyana is not getting value for money and the impacts of the massive investments in the education sector is still to be seen.
“We hope the Government can get serious,” she said.

The front-bencher with A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) added that while some of the interventions, such as the move to ensure Guyana attains universal secondary education, are laudable, there must be value for money.
She said the current Administration must recognise the worth of the Guyanese youth and step up.
The Shadow Education Minister bemoaned the annual $10,000 education grant, noting its inadequacy.
Ally made it clear that talk of eight consecutive years of growth will not “hoodwink” the Guyanese people, many of whom are in a “depressing” situation.
She called for interventions that are sustainable to ensure real improvement of the lives of the Guyanese people.

The APNU MP reiterated her call for value for money and appealed for careful management and monitoring of interventions – all geared to delivered better services and quality education to all Guyanese children, rather than some.
“We want our nation’s children to have a better life, hence this Government must utilise the requisite resources, human and material, to let the people enjoy a better life,” Ally said.

REALISING OUR VISION
In response, Minister Manickchand said the education sector, through careful planning and management, is moving to realise its vision.
According to her, the Opposition’s reference to impact is a seemingly “skewed” definition of the word, adding that the successes of the sector seem to be lost.
“We will get there (where we need to be) because we can…we will plan for it, we will strategise for it and we will fund it,” Manickchand said.

She explained that her Ministry’s strategic plan, which will be released soon, will further realise the current Administration’s vision for the sector.
Among the initiatives to be undertaken on the five-year plan are: long-awaited changes to the Education Act, last amended in 1976; new regulations on national accreditation council; new interactive website, to benefit school children; engagements with stakeholders; more focus on children with special education needs; completion of Guyana’s own nursery reader (Roraima Readers); completion of Guyana’s primary readers (Atlantic Readers); addressing furniture needs; more resources for students; increased teacher training; advances at the University of Guyana (UG), including curricula reform and the establishment of a Centre of Excellence; and a hinterland education improvement programme, among others.

Manickchand added that consultations are frequently done and will continue to be done to ensure the delivery of education responds to real needs of the Guyanese people.
As to the advance of the sector and, by extension, Guyana, the Minister said, “We will do it alone if we have to, as we have been doing, but we would appreciate the support, because their (Opposition) supporters expect their representation for the children of those constituents.”
She made it clear that the MPs in the Opposition benches have much to offer, but must understand that in making their contribution, it is a contribution to the Government’s vision for the sector, not as the Government to determine that vision.

“If the Opposition leaders don’t work with us, we will work with their constituents, as we have been doing anyway,” Manickchand said.

The Minister maintained that the contention that the Budget has nothing to offer reflects a clear misinterpretation and lack of understanding of the 2014 Estimates.

It should be noted that the Opposition seats were vacant during Minister Manickchand’s presentation yesterday as the Opposition members walked out of the House, protesting her refusal to issue an apology to former APNU MP, Jaipaul Sharma. The only Opposition member who stayed to listen to Minister Manickchand’s presentation was Ms Ally.

Source: By Vanessa Narine; https://guyanachronicle.com/2014/04/07/education-remains-pppc-governments-top-priority

A day after resigning as a Member of Parliament (MP) for main opposition APNU, Jaipaul Sharma yesterday said that he disagreed with Speaker Raphael Trotman’s justification for lifting a ban on Education Minister Priya Manickchand over comments she made that offended him.

Sharma said Trotman did not give him a chance to complete his objections to the minister’s remarks on Tuesday during the continuing budget debate, when she made an allusion to the statutory rape charges against his father. Trotman had intervened, initially censured the minister over her comment and asking her to apologise but without success, which led to the short-lived ban on her participation.

Sharma, who tendered his resignation to the National Assembly on Thursday over the remarks made by Manickchand, is also upset that Trotman delayed informing the House that he had resigned. He has since received calls from many persons who have encouraged him to rescind his resignation.

“I thought long and hard about this and, I am not a little boy, I know the decision I made,” Sharma told Stabroek News yesterday, while noting that there is a belief that he wants to hurt the partnership. He said this idea was the furthest from the truth, especially since he believed his continued presence in the National Assembly would damage APNU.

Asked if he does not believe that resignation would indeed hurt the partnership, Sharma responded in the negative, pointing out that rather he believes that his remaining there would hurt the partnership. “Priya would not give up, I would be there and she would continue. Is like I am her little toy…,” Sharma said.

On Thursday, Trotman announced his decision to lift the ban he had imposed on Manickchand, pointing out that when Sharma objected he had said that his father was being impugned and not himself.

“That is something that I reviewed and I had to take note of that. He did not feel that he was the one being impugned but that it was his father. I believe initially that it was a sitting member of this House but by Mr. Sharma’s own words he said, ‘My father’ and that is something that I must take cognizance of,” the Speaker explained.

However, Sharma disagreed with Trotman’s conclusion, pointing out that he was not allowed to complete his statement before the Speaker interrupted and then himself and the minister had a back and forth before he banned her. Sharma, who was also offended that Trotman described the issue as a “minor incident” between himself and Manickchand, said that he was the one who was offended and not his father, who was not in the House at the time.

“I feel the minister was trying to embarrass me,” Sharma said, pointing out that he nor his father are “cry a babies” and that it was never his intention to ask the minister to apologise to his father. The former parliamentarian indicated that while his father is facing statutory rape charges, he (Jaipaul) should not be crucified because of this. He also noted that the matter would be decided in a court of law and it is not for him to pronounce on the guilt or innocence of his father.

Sharma told Stabroek News that he may have been somewhat confused when he stood to his feet to object since he was not prepared for the issue and was still new to parliamentary procedures. However, he maintained that he was offended by the minister.

“I admire the Speaker and I told him this in my resignation letter. But for him to do this and not ensure the minister apologise and to try to say I was not offended, I am totally annoyed,” he explained.

He said was “hurt” over the entire situation and he revealed that he had about 40 questions to ask about the education sector during the consideration of the budget estimates and he noted that he would have been uncomfortable to pose the questions to the minister. He said that it is not the first time the minister had made mention of his father’s charges and he felt that she was making him (Jaipaul) “her toy.” The former MP said he is the only Sharma sitting in the House and the minister would be well aware that he would be the only member of the family who would be offended when she makes her remarks in the National Assembly.

He also pointed to the minister’s comments on Wednesday when she stated that she did not intend to disrupt APNU Volda Lawrence’s presentation when she made the comment and he questioned the purpose of her heckling in light of the claim. “When you heckle is to throw off the person who speaking, so if she did not want to disrupt Ms Lawrence then her intention was to offend me,” Sharma said.

He also mentioned the case last year when APNU member Vanessa Kissoon had to apologise to Minister of Works Robeson Benn after she made a comment about a relative of his who was in trouble with the law. Trotman has also repeatedly said that the family of members should not be made the business of the House.

Sharma also said that he was upset that Trotman delayed informing the House that he had resigned.

On Thursday, in announcing that that Sharma delivered his resignation letter to the Parliament Office sometime after midday on that day, Trotman said he had delayed making the announcement as he believed that the letter was not final. “Every effort should be made by all of us collectively to convince Mr Sharma that he played a very, very vital role in this House and that he is very much appreciated,” he said.

Sharma said he saw this as “eye pass” because it gave the impression that he acted rashly and did not know what he was doing. He said that it is not only Trotman who felt that his decision was not final but also many Members of the Parliament who have been calling him and indicating that he should return to Parliament.

“Why should I be getting calls at 1 and 2 o’clock in the morning telling me Sharma you should go back to Parliament?” he questioned.

Sharma admitted that he had not tendered his resignation to APNU but noted that he had indicated his decision to its Leader David Granger earlier in the day. He said how he understands the process is that he has to send the resignation to the Speaker, who would then inform the House.

He noted that he had sent the resignation early Thursday so that Trotman could make an early announcement and in turn the Guyana Elections Commission (Gecom) would be informed and given adequate time for a replacement to be extracted from APNU’s list of candidates. He felt that had the announcement been made early, a replacement could have been sworn in by yesterday, which was his hope. However, he said up to yesterday morning, Gecom was not officially informed of his resignation.

Sharma said he wanted his seat to be filled as quickly as possible to ensure that the estimates can be properly scrutinised. He pointed out that if there is a tie in the votes for any sector that is being considered, it would mean that the sector would have no money for the budgetary year.

Source: https://www.stabroeknews.com/2014/news/guyana/04/05/sharma-stands-ground-resignation/

Dear Editor,

Having had the opportunity to meet Ms Priya Manickchand in the course of my attachment to NCERD, I concluded that she has a strong sense of justice and is totally dedicated to the protection of the children of the nation making efforts towards achieving the best for them in the education sector. She demands quality from her professionals.

 Yours faithfully,

Krishna Nand Prasad

Head (ag)

Learning Resources

Development Unit

Ministry of Education

Source: https://www.stabroeknews.com/2014/opinion/letters/04/05/respects-manickchand-sincere-message-parliament/

Dear Editor,

In the explanation of her refusal to apologise to MP Jaipaul Sharma, which we saw on Wednesday, the Minister of Education, Ms Priya Manickchand said that if she apologized she would be betraying the victims of rape and paedophilia: “I cannot abandon them just to keep the National Assembly happy,” she explained.

The victims of rape and paedophilia are not supported by grandstanding declarations.

Rather than use Mr Sharma as a vehicle for her commitment not to betray victims of rape and paedophilia, we would urge the Minister to use her good offices and considerable influence and knowledge of the sexual offences laws within her party and government to ensure that the Sexual Offences Act is enforced fully throughout Guyana.

The victims of rape and paedophilia in Guyana urgently need to have the backlog of sexual offences cases which fall under both the old and new sexual offence laws fast tracked.

Special courts should be set up for this if needs be. We know that the majority of survivors of sexual offences in Guyana are children, many of whom have been waiting for over five or even ten years to have their cases heard.  Is this the justice they deserve? Up to the time of the amendment to the SOA 2010, there was already a backlog of over one hundred cases.

The victims of rape and paedophilia in Guyana need professional and  proper investigations of sexual offences cases and the courts need access to DNA evidence, which will do more to instil confidence in the justice system than the poor and questionable police investigations that often lead to dismissals of matters. They need comprehensive services from special units set up in every hospital or, where no hospitals are available, other appropriate venues, where services are centralized and victim-centered, with nurses trained in the gathering of forensic evidence and treatment of rape and sexual assault survivors, trained counsellors to address the psychological and physical trauma, and trained police officers to take statements in a humane and professional manner. They also need court advocates to attend to their and their families’ needs throughout the court process.

The victims of rape and paedophilia need to have the Sexual Offences Task Force convened and resourced without delay so that the national plan of action for the prevention  of sexual offences can become a reality, and more importantly,  be enforced without fear or favour regardless of status and income, sex, sexual orientation,  ethnicity,  geography, age or disability.

The victims of rape and paedophilia need to have ongoing education about the provisions of the Sexual Offences Act organized so that the population is informed about the law, including the wider definition of rape and consent, and the inclusion of new sexual offences, special orders for the safety of survivors, and compensation for survivors of sexual offences.

It is true that, as Minister Manickchand has said, the psychological and physical effects of sexual violence on survivors are far reaching and severe.  They sometimes result in damage that may be permanent, including anxiety and depression; post-traumatic stress and panic disorders; fear; shame; inability to trust and form lasting relationships especially for young persons; high risk sexual behaviour; a high risk of perpetrating sexual violence (for boys), and a high risk of experiencing subsequent sexual violence (for girls). Some rape survivors have to undergo reconstructive surgery as a result of brutal rapes. Other victims are raped and killed. The victims of rape and paedophilia in Guyana need those in authority, armoured with this knowledge, to ensure that the demands we have outlined above are implemented. This would be the very best way of ensuring that the victims of rape and paedophilia in Guyana are not abandoned.

Yours faithfully,

Danuta Radzik

Denise Dias

Josephine Whitehead

Source: https://www.stabroeknews.com/2014/opinion/letters/04/05/victims-rape-paedophilia-supported-grandstanding-declarations/

EDUCATION Minister Priya Manickchand refuted claims made by several Members of Parliament (MPs) of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) that the 2014 Budget Theme is similar to the PPP party’s 2011 manifesto.

She stressed that if that is the case, the Opposition should have no problem supporting the national estimates, as allocations therein are geared to fulfill the many promises made to the people of Guyana during the 2011 campaign.
On Monday night in the National Assembly, she pleaded with the combined Opposition to do the right thing and put Guyana first by doing what is “good and right” for the Guyanese people.

“There will be opportunities, sooner or later, for their vision — if they have any — to be taken to the people… But until then, we have a responsibility to the people of this country,” Manickchand said.

The Education Minister noted that the responsibility Government has to the Guyanese people is a responsibility to all Guyanese, not just some. “All Guyanese have to include the people who democratically chose this Government… ‘A better Guyana for all Guyanese’ is (talking about) all Guyana, not some,” she said, as she referred to the “biased” positions taken by the Opposition in relation to the sugar and bauxite industries.

Manickchand continued: “My constituents are saying that they feel that they are being discriminated against because they voted for the PPP/C. They believe they are being punished.

“Yes, you can say you support the allocation to the education sector, but when you take away means from their parents, as will happen if the allocations to the sugar industry are cut, you still do our children harm… This is what will happen when you chop this budget.”

According to Manickchand, the theme of the 2014 Budget is apt, and the onus in now on the Opposition to fill the gap between their words and actions, and work with Government for a better Guyana.

The Education Minister highlighted that Guyana has “held its own” over the last eight years, recording consecutive growth rates at a time when countries the world over have been challenged.

“We are seeing visibly the signs of growth…there are things that can visibly identify as to whether or not we are growing… To say there is no growth is insipid, when we see clear evidence of growth,” she said.

Stating that growth does not come easily, Manickchand lauded the economic stewardship of Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh. “It is this (stewardship) and vision that have allowed us to see continued growth for eight years,” she said.
The minister lambasted APNU MP Joseph Harmon for references he had made to the Finance Ministry staff as “tired” in his criticisms of the 2014 Estimates. She flayed him for “targeting” professionals who should be allowed to work and be respected, regardless of their political allegiances.

Manickchand pointed out that the Director of the Budget Office is a woman, Sonya Roopnauth, who has done well in her capacity; and under her stewardship has seen the Office realising accomplishments that “entire global” conferences are called to urge countries to do.

“We say ‘thank you’ to the ministry staff,” the minister said.

She was emphatic in stressing that the Government stands by the National Budget, which will bring good things to the Guyanese people.

Source: (By Vanessa Narine) https://guyanachronicle.com/2014/04/08/manickchand-refutes-apnu-claims-that-budget-2014-has-similar-theme-as-ppp-2011-manifesto

Dear Editor,
The Guyana Parliament has sunken to a new low, that is, persons become easily offended when a simple question is asked about their horrible past. It seems that no one on the government side can question a member of the opposition on any matter. This became forcibly clear when The Honourable Minister for Education Priya Manickchand was banned from speaking in the national assembly. The Centre of all of this is a statement rather a question asked by the minister she said “ask Sharma, ask your APNU member Sharma.” The Honourable Minister for Education was seeking clarification from the opposition member on the worrisome and contentious issue of statutory rape. We are well aware of the member of parliament’s father having several run ins with the law on this matter, so this is a very good way to start the discussion.

Instead of doing the mature thing in ignoring the question, Jaipaul Sharma quickly asked for an apology to which Speaker Trotman obliged. Minister Manickchand stood her ground and did not make an apology hence the speaker went ahead and banned her from taking part in further proceedings of the house. Now this is utter foolishness! Can you give me a valid reason why a minister is barred from taking part in the rest of the proceedings of the house? What parliamentary procedural breach did she violate?  Why should the minister be banned when all she was doing is seeking clarification on a matter? The minister was simply asking the presenter to turn the searchlight inwards by questioning someone right in her midst – of her own party – before bringing it to the full house. The minister was asking Volda Lawrence to do her homework with APNU member Jaipaul Sharma first before coming public.

I would ask the Minister of Education to make a humble apology reasons being, I would like those very important matters of education to be discussed. However, when it’s my turn to speak I will take the opportunity to raise the topic again with a polite question “Could APNU Member of Parliament Sharma shed some light on this matter? The point is this, if Trotman wants to turn the honourable house into a circus, then we are in this game together. If Trotman wants to be so childish then he must be given a strong dose of his own medicine. We can play the game. In fact I would ask Minister Manickchand to include in her deposition the important item of statutory rape as it relates to young boys – there is a very serious matter engaging the court right now with a popular radio announcer. Talk about serious issues of statutory rape and sexual perverts well, they have opened a can of worms on this matter.
There should be no gag order on the minister on a simple matter as this. Something of this nature could have been brushed aside with a non response from the opposite side, that is, if they were a mature and responsible group. But that is far from these losers who see parliament as a place where they can play out their small-mindedness helped by a speaker who accommodates them. Parliament is not a place for thin-skinned babies but a place for grown men and women who can withstand constructive criticisms and not flinch.

Neil Adams

Source: https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2014/04/04/why-should-minister-manickchand-apologize/

APNU Member of Parliament Jaipaul Sharma this afternoon announced his resignation from the National Assembly over remarks made by Minister of Education Priya Manickchand in reference to his father CN Sharma facing statutory rape charges.

The younger Sharma, who ‎demanded an apology from the minister after her comment on Tuesday, told reporters that he felt the ruling PPP/C would use the issue involving his father to damage the main opposition coalition.

It was while APNU Member Volda Lawrence was making her budget presentation and pointing out that men were not facing justice for statutory rape that the Minister heckled, saying, “Ask your member Sharma, your APNU chief member Sharma.” Speaker Raphael Trotman subsequently announced that he would not recognise her in the Assembly unless she apologized. Manickchand, however, stood her ground and the Speaker yesterday reversed his decision.

As a group of persons protested outside of the Public Buildings calling for the Minister to apologise, Sharma said that he thought it was the best decision to make even though he knew he sat on some of the parliamentary committees for the partnership. He was slated to make his presentation on the government’s proposed budget today. He added that while he also knows that the budget is important, he felt his decision was the right one.

The senior Sharma made an appearance at the Public Buildings today and sat in the public gallery, almost behind the Education Minister.

APNU leader David Granger, who met Sharma outside the Public Buildings yesterday, was approached by reporters for a comment on the development and he said he had not received a resignation letter from his member. (Sharma said that he sent to his resignation directly to Trotman.) Granger, however, said he would advise Sharma to reconsider his decision since he is a valuable member of the partnership and sits on important parliamentary committees.

After today’s sitting began, Trotman said that after reviewing a video leading up to and after the “minor incident,” he found that it did not refer to the APNU Member but rather for his father, CN  Sharma. The Speaker pointed out that even when Jaipaul Sharma raised his objection he had indicated that he felt the comment was meant for his father and that he (the Speaker) must take note of this fact. ‎

APNU’s Chief Whip Amna Ally, after hearing the Speaker’s new ruling, said the partnership was still demanding an apology. However, Trotman said while she could make the demand, he would not allow a debate on the issue.

Source: https://www.stabroeknews.com/2014/news/04/03/sharma-resigns-mp/

The pupils and teachers of Bath Primary School, West Berbice received a spanking new computer laboratory on Thursday as part of collaboration between the Canadian Global Partnership for Literacy and former student. Trevor Anthony SubAdmin.

A release from the Ministry of Education yesterday said that in a ceremony attended by Minister of Education Priya Manickchand, parents, pupils and teachers of Bath Primary, the Region Five Chairman and other Regional officers,  SubAdmin handed over the new computer lab to his alma mater.

The release said that SubAdmin spoke of his early days at Bath Primary and how through hard work and sacrifice he was able to overcome many adversities to become a successful businessman. He charged the students to be disciplined, dedicated and focused on the education they receive.

Manickchand said that investing in education continues to be a priority area of the Guyana government’s national growth strategy.

The Minister stated that: “The 2014 Budgetary allocation – provided it is passed through parliament without any cuts – will allow for improved infrastructure, the training of more teachers, provision of substantial financial support for each child, and generally improvement of the quality of education at all levels, from nursery to university.”

Following the ceremony, the Marian SubAdmin Computer Lab was commissioned.

The release said that presently there are 123 secondary schools currently equipped with computer laboratories, while 85 primary schools have computer laboratories.

Source: https://www.stabroeknews.com/2014/news/guyana/03/29/bath-primary-gets-computer-lab/

– Minister Manickchand

In spite of economical decline evident in many countries of the world in recent years, “Guyana has held her own and has grown. That is an amazing thing,” said Minister of Education, Priya Devi Manickchand, yesterday.
The Minister, who was at the time speaking at a forum at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), in Kingston, Georgetown, alluded to the disclosures of Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh.

Dr Singh, presenting the 2014 National Budget on Monday, disclosed that Guyana has been able to realise eight consecutive years of economic growth. “That is something that we can be proud of…We are at a great place nationally,” Minister Manickchand observed.
“We could say that we are at the strongest place that Guyana has ever been really, economically, growth-wise and everything…and this is in a world economy that has not been kind to its people,” the Minister noted.
She said that growth in any country comes from strong policies, affirmed vision and from a relentless pursuit of that vision, something Government has been continuously embracing.

“With great stewardship and great leadership we are seeing Guyana grow…Anyhow you look at it, this is an achievement for Guyana that we can all celebrate irrespective of whatever affiliations people may have and where you live and what your views are on various issues,” Manickchand disclosed.
And it was because of evident national stability, the Minister said, that Government has been able to invest repeatedly, over the years, across sectors thereby enabling the realised growth.
However, it was the education sector, she underscored that has consistently been granted the lion’s share of the national budget.

“If you look at past (People Progressive Party/Civic’s budgets) you will see that undoubtedly a large budgetary allocation is made to the education sector every year,” asserted Manickchand.
This year, $32.3 B has been earmarked for the Education Sector. “This is the single sector that is receiving the most,” boasted the Education Minister, even as she turned her attention to the vast numbers who stand to benefit once this sizeable allocation is approved for spending.
And not only will children be the beneficiary of the education allocation, the Minister said, but also families, as a whole, are expected to be improved in the long run.
“If we are making this generation more prepared than we made the generation before, then we can be sure that Guyana is going to be a better place 50 years from now simply because we will have more capacity; we will have more children who are independent; more children who are better geared to take our country forward,” the Education Minister declared.
The Minister’s extensive deliberation was forthcoming even as she sought, in her own way, to simplify the “budgeted billions”.

“Sometimes when we talk about the billions of dollars we have, and the billions of dollars allocated to the Education Sector and how many billions of dollars are in the budget we get lost in what that really means…,” noted the Minister, as she pointed to the beneficiaries as the important factors.
“Because our boys and girls are going to grow up better prepared, better educated adults, Guyana as a whole will benefit and when Guyana benefits then every single person is going to be on the receiving end of those benefits,” Manickchand assured.

Source: https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2014/03/29/2014-budget-education-allocation-will-put-guyana-in-a-better-place/

The Region Two (Pomeroon/ Supenaam) yesterday held its Bi-Annual Math, Science and Technology Fair at the Anna Regina Secondary School.

Regional Education Officer of Region Two Baramdai Seepersaud said that the Math,

“This year, the Regional Science Fair will allow our learners to demonstrate their expertise in the areas of Pure Science, Information Technology and other technical and pre-vocational areas including Agricultural Science and Home Economics,” she said. “The scope of participation has been broad-based with participants from nursery through secondary.”Technology and Science fair is an important event and the focus is to give learners the opportunity to use their knowledge, skills and expertise under the guidance of teachers to come up with new and innovative ways to solve crucial and pressing problems in their environment.

She then announced that the National Science, Mathematics and Technology Fair, billed for April 22 – 25, will be held in Essequibo. National Science Coordinator and guest speaker at the event Petal Jettoo said that science must be taught with its history and the Ministry of Education’s aim is to serve everyone in that capacity.

“Climate change has destroyed special species without us knowing and as such, science and technology are important for students…,” she noted. “Local community problems are demonstrated and as such, I urge everyone to view the exhibits and look for ways in which you can implement the projects as you walk through the classrooms. With the ideas of these young minds, let us strive to grow and build a greener society.”

The Bi-Annual Math, Science and Technology Fair, 2014, held under the theme ‘Science, Mathe-matics and Technology: Providing Solutions for the 21st Century,’ was declared open by Coordinator of the fair Deodat Singh.

The best projects from all of the 11 educational districts will represent Guyana at the Sagicor Visionaries Challenge.

The challenge encourages secondary school students around the Caribbean to identify an issue facing their school and use Science Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) to come up with a sustainable solution. The winning school in each country is invited to the final competition in Barbados and the winners to a seven-day STEM ambassador programme in Florida, USA.

Source: https://www.stabroeknews.com/2014/news/guyana/03/15/essequibo-students-exhibit-projects-science-fair/