ETI graduates 72 despite challenges faced by COVID-19

A total of 72 students graduated on Tuesday from the Essequibo Technical Institute (ETI), covering courses in refrigeration and air conditioning, general office administration, furniture making, data operation, computer science, welding and agriculture machinery among others.
The overall best graduating students are 20-year-old Rahul Ramdyal from the business department and 23-year-old Youdesh Persaud from the technical department.
Ramdyal said that he was very elated with his performance despite the many challenges he had to confront.

“I was faced with many challenges while attending the institution, but nevertheless, I set my mind to succeed, and I did. However, I would like to take the opportunity to encourage the younger ones to enrol in the institute and further their studies in the various areas they are interested in,” Ramdyal told Guyana Times.
Persaud shared similar sentiments, adding that the journey was not an easy task for him, but he tried his best to succeed and make his mother proud. He added that many times he wanted to give up.

“Most of the time when I am studying online, the internet connectivity will start to give problems… I used the patience God gifted me and kept up with the tasks I have to get done,” Persaud related.
Other outstanding students for the year 2021-2022 were Jusel Duggan, Alex Smith, Laiza Percy, Myra Thomas, Shalini Ramotar, Fayad Nankishore, Areena Bridjodhan, Keyianna Trotman, Dickey Henry, Sherwin Alli, Devindra Bhagwandin, Bishawan Persaud, Devon Nathan, Ravi Persaud, and Stephon Daniels.

Principal of the institution, Stacy Osborne during her report stated that technical and vocational education is of great importance, especially with Guyana’s emerging industries associated with oil, gas, and mining.
Osborne further explained that the pandemic has tremendously affected the institution in terms of the attendance of students for this academic year.
She added that in the 2019-2020 batch of students, a total of 279 of them had enrolled within the institution but due to the pandemic some of them were urged to stay at home.
On this note, she posited that after classes resumed, the attendance was very poor. Additionally, for 2020-2022, many students were forced to drop out of the institution as a result of a lack of data and internet access at home.
She added that in light of the poor turnout of students for the current year, the institute will continue to work with the Education Ministry and the regional administration in order to move the institute to a higher level.
Attending the graduation ceremony was the Chairman of the Board of Governors, Todar Chowbay. He took the opportunity to encourage and motivate the students to continue to pursue their education, remain focused, and follow their career paths.
A representative of the region’s Regional Executive Officer, Portia Jacobs extended warm congratulations to the students and wished them the very best as they continue their academic journey.