Georgetown, Guyana — (August 10, 2019) Director General of Ministry of the Presidency, Mr. Joseph Harmon commended the Department of Education of Essequibo Islands-West Demerara (Region Three) on the high level of attainment and higher percentage of passes at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA).
Of the 1,827 Grade Six pupils wrote the NGSA in the region; the region 37 spots in the top one per cent of the country’s top performers.
In his feature address at the Second Annual NGSA Award Ceremony, which was held yesterday, Mr. Harmon said these results are a direct result of the Government’s continuous investment in the education sector.
The Director General said the NGSA remains a critical point in Guyana’s education system, allowing students to transition from primary to secondary education. Therefore, the Government has made steady increases in budgetary allocations for the sector to ensure that all children have equal access to quality education.
“For our Government, education is the key to unlocking the great potential of our most valuable resources, our young people, in whose hands the future of Guyana lays…We have demonstrated this by the steady increase in the budgetary allocations for the education sector since [Government’s] ascension to office,” he said.
The Government continues also, to implement a number of number of reforms and other measures, including enhanced teacher training, curricular development, the digitization of the education system, the introduction of smart classrooms, literacy and numeracy interventions to enhance learning. The Government has also provided access to education through the Public Education Transport Service (PETS).
Additionally, in order to boost Information and Communication Technology (ICT) literacy in the region, 39 schools and 40 ICT Hubs have benefited from internet access through the Schools Connectivity Initiative implemented by the National Data Management Authority (NDMA).
Director General Harmon commended the parents and teachers for capitalising on these measures to enhance children’s learning in the region, noting that the exceptional NGSA results are evidence of its success.
Additionally, in his charge to the students, Mr. Harmon encouraged them to remain focused on their education. “You are symbols of hope for the future and the key to our success in our quest for true sustainable national development and the security of our national patrimony,” he said.
Meanwhile, Regional Information Officer, Mr. Ganesh Mahipaul, who delivered an address on behalf of Regional Executive Officer, Ms. Jennifer Ferreira-Dougall, lauded the Government’s initiatives to improve the learning environment in the region. These measures have also produced improved results at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) levels, he said.
“Once you have a Government that understands the importance of education and at the regional level, the mandate is given to facilitate that improvement in our education system in the form of academics and co-curricular activities; we will guarantee better results…We will continue to work hard to further the improvements in the region’s academic performance because we believe that in keeping with the Government’s policy that the best way to develop a country and the best wealth one can have in a country is for its youths to be educated,” he said.
The students who were honoured at the ceremony are Miss Ruth Larson and Master Shrirish Persaud both of the Academy of Excellence, who share the top spot with 530 marks. Miss Sarah Johnson; Master Aditya Sharma and Miss Jaaya Shiwraj, also of the Academy of Excellence, each of whom obtained 528 marks. Miss Athaliah Joe; Master Yuvraj Tuklaram and Master Aryan Sugrim, all of the Academy of Excellence, each of whom obtained 527 marks, along with Miss Janae Boucher of the Genesis Early Childhood, who also obtained 527 marks, and Miss Chitra Parbhu of the Leonora Primary School, who gained 526 marks. All 10 students have obtained a place at Queens College.
Regional Education Officer, Ms. Annesta Douglas also attended the ceremony, which was held at Regional Education Office, Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara.
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