Education Minister Priya Manickchand on Wednesday launched the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) programme that would be offered at the West Demerara Secondary School (WDSS).
Education Minister Priya Manickchand and the headteacher of the WDSS, after the unit was declared open
The Education Minister said during her remarks that it is important that this programme be brought closer to students in the region who are desirous of pursuing the programme. She said that, previously, the only alternative to pursuing CAPE was for students to travel the long distance to attend one of the schools in Georgetown currently offering CAPE. This, she said, puts a lot of strain on some families relative to transportation and other associated costs.
The Education Minister along with officials and students at the West Demerara Secondary School on Wednesday
So far, 12 students have registered to pursue CAPE at the school. However, the Minister stated that the support of the Government and the Education Ministry would not end there, but scholarships would be available through the Government’s 20,000 Scholarships Programme so that they can pursue higher academic learning.
She urged the students to perform with excellence and vindicate the decision to have CAPE offered at the school. She said the Ministry would be following their progress and offering the necessary support.
Further, Manickchand related that the region currently has 14 secondary schools, but she believes that there is still need for one more. According to the Minister, though the region has managed to close many of the Primary Tops, there is still one Primary Top at Saraswat Primary School with over 300 students.
She said that in the next four years, the Ministry of Education would be working to achieve universal secondary education in the country. This would mean that students would no longer have to be placed in Primary Tops, but all secondary-age children would have access to a secondary school wherever they are located.
She said the region also needs a primary school in Tuschen and La Parfaite Harmonie. She explained that the need for these schools is to accommodate the growing population within the two communities.
Moreover, she said that the centre for the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) would soon be completed and would accommodate 120 students, thereby making teacher training more accessible. This, she said, is being done while two teachers’ quarters are being built at Leguan and Wakenaam.
The Minister added that the Leonora Secondary School Dorm is also near completion. She said the facility would house 65 students and would cater to those students who live along the Demerara and Essequibo rivers who can attend school in the Region.
Meanwhile, Headteacher of the West Demerara Secondary School, Harrinarine, said his school is elated that the CAPE programme would be offered there. He said that this has been in the school’s improvement plan for quite some time, and is finally being realised.
He said that, initially, the school would offer an Associate Degree in Arts and an Associate Degree in Business. He reported that the initial 10 subjects that would be offered are Biology, Chemistry, Pure Mathematics, Integrated Mathematics, Management of Business, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Communication Studies, Literatures in English and Environmental Studies.
Harrinarine said that the school has teachers for all of the subjects, and with the assistance of the Central Ministry, will be offering additional subjects in the future. He said that his school has been consistent in its performance at the level of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), with the school achieving a 93% matriculation rate in 2020 with 18 students passing with 8 grade ones or more, the first time in the school’s history.
He said the school was established in 1965, and would continue to strive to produce well-rounded students.
