Education Ministry to engage religious bodies to reach, support disadvantaged students

While delivering remarks on Saturday at the “Celebration Day” event hosted by the First Assembly of God Wortmanville Church, Georgetown, Education Minister Priya Manickchand disclosed that more than 2000 students have not turned out to school and sadly, the reasons range from not having school uniform and school supplies, entering the workforce, not having transportation and money for same as well as fear of the pandemic.
The event was held to honour the Church’s members who sat the recent National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) and other recent examinations at the University of Guyana and other tertiary institutions.
Minister Manickchand said that beginning this week, she will be engaging churches, temples and masjids and other religious bodies and organisations to help the State in determining where the students are and how they can be supported with completing their secondary education or accessing training in technical vocational education.
The Minister said the only other institutions in almost every community outside of schools are religious bodies and Toshaos and Village Councils and for this reason, the Ministry will be engaging those bodies for assistance to make sure children are not lost to education.
While at the “Celebration Day” activity, Minister Manickchand engaged members of the Church and its clergy including Pastors Paul Benjamin, Dr Wilbert Lee, Deacon Orson Smith, Chief Education Officer Rev Dr Marcel Hutson, Elder Angela Massiah and Bishop Dr Murtland Raphael Massiah.