Corentyne schools receive broiler chicken from Agri Ministry

Students attending two Corentyne schools, who are preparing to sit the Agricultural Science Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination in 2024, are now in a better position to have their School-Based Assessment (SBA) completed.

This follows the donation of baby broiler chicks by Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha on Saturday to Winifred Gaskin Secondary and Manchester Secondary School, in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).
Each school received 100 broiler chicks and feed to assist with the SBAs for students preparing to write CSEC examinations.
It is intended to give the students a hands-on experience in the rearing of poultry.
Mustapha said it is important to promote agriculture in schools and that the Ministry will work to develop the schools’ agriculture departments.
He said with Guyana leading the charge in the Region in terms of agricultural development, it was critical for more young people to get involved in agriculture, noting that President Dr Irfaan Ali’s Agriculture and Innovation Entrepreneurship Programme (AIEP) was developed to attract young people and caters for the cultivation of high-value crops such as broccoli, cauliflower and carrots.
Head Teacher of Manchester Secondary, Sean Letch said the donation is highly appreciated.

“The young people that are writing CSEC, they are going to benefit tremendously because as a project to fulfil their CXC requirements, they have to do a project with chickens.”
Students of Grade 10 will take on the project. The school is hoping to build capacity and be able to sustain itself. According to the Head Teacher, there are plans to expand its agriculture programmes to include Grades 7-11. He said the skills students will acquire can help them to earn in the future.
In showing his appreciation, Imran Ali of Winifred Gaskin Secondary said it will strengthen the curriculum for learners.
He said the project will help the school to advance one of the Education Ministry’s target areas, which is the Secondary School Enhancement Programme. This programme targets students between Grades 7 and 11 and exposes them to five areas which include technical and vocational education and training (TVET), home economics and agricultural science. (G4)