— says plans in place to streamline education system for future needs of Guyana
His Excellency President Dr Irfaan Ali stated that his Government is building a robust education system designed to equip future generations of Guyanese with the tools required to be globally competitive.
The Head of State discussed the massive transformative agenda of his Government for Guyana during an interview with five female journalists and a number of high school students at the Railway Courtyard Mall on Tuesday.
Stemming from a student’s question about plans for the education sector over the next five years, the President pointed to the growth already achieved, especially in reach and delivery.
He said that the Government is focusing heavily on bridging the education gap between the coast and the hinterland and is now fully invested in attaining universal secondary education in the hinterland.
“Five years ago, you had limited access to data in the hinterland. Today, almost every hinterland school is connected to the Learning Channel or connected to a digital platform, so that every single school in the hinterland can now be part of the digital revolution with the Guyana Digital School.”
The President also highlighted the numerous investments in “worldclass” science labs, practical instruction centres and technical centres in the hinterland.
He described Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) learning as integral to Guyana’s digital revolution.
“We also have to do a lot more work on streamlining the mindset of our children to what the economy needs and requires, finding ways in which we can incentivise and motivate students to pursue science and engineering.”
Although focus will be on core studies, the President also called on the students to learn a second language and said that all forms of education would be necessary, especially with his Government’s drive to build out the orange economy of the country, which draws on art, culture, heritage, design, and creativity.
“If the orange economy gets going and you have the film industry coming here, you need makeup artists of a different calibre, with skill sets requiring certification… So, a major part of this education ecosystem is to manage the input and the output as it relates to what Guyana would need,” President Ali reasoned.