Georgetown, Guyana – (October 1, 2019) Minister of State, Mrs. Dawn Hastings- Williams, this afternoon, commended teachers and educators for their continued dedication to moulding the nation’s children and reiterated the Government’s commitment to investing in the sector.
The Minister made these statements in her feature address at the Guyana Teachers’ Union’s (GTU) statutory branch meeting, which was held at the Friendship Primary School, Buxton, East Coast Demerara.
She said that education is the pathway to equality and teachers are the driving force behind upward mobility. The Minister noted that it is important that educators are recognised for their important role in nation-building.
“As an educator, you are called to mould the minds of you learn… with the knowledge needed to succeed… The Government under the leadership of President [David] Granger recognises the values of educators and are cognizant that in order to have greater success in the education sector, more resources are needed and we will continue to work towards ensuring that those needs are met,” Minister Hastings-Williams said.
The Minister also said that she was particularly pleased to have been invited to deliver the feature remarks to the meeting on World Teachers’ Day 2019, which has been themed “I teach for a better world – Consolidating for greater success in the future’.
Minister Hastings-Williams said the Government remains committed to making substantial investments in the sector in order to realise the President’s goal of making Guyana an ‘education nation’. She reminded that the Head of State had committed to ensuring that a substantial portion of the revenues earned from the sustainable development of the petroleum sector would be invested in education.
“In order to consolidate greater success in the future, the Government is preparing our young people for the jobs of the future in order for them to enjoy ‘the good life’ that is [why]we have invested $170 billion on education,” she said.
The Minister then encouraged the educators to continue to be agents of positive change in the lives of their students.
Meanwhile, GTU General Secretary, Ms. Coretta McDonald remarks encouraged the teachers to do their best to ensure that their students become well-rounded individuals.
“We have recognised not only yesterday, but over the years that education is essential to living a fulfilling and better life… Education is the fundamental right of every citizen in our land and it is capable of bringing about the desired changes and the upliftment in the human mind and the society,” she said.
Additionally, Acting Regional Education Officer (REO), Department of Education Region Four, Ms. Tiffany Harvey, said that theme for World Teachers’ Day resonated with her personally and she encouraged the teachers to use it to motivate themselves. She recommitted the Regional Education Office’s efforts to ensuring that teachers’ needs are met in a timelier manner.
GTU- Buxton branch Chairman, Mr. Collis Nicholson and Chairperson of the Regional Education Committee, Mr. Ryan Belgrave also attended the meeting.
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