While addressing the gathering at the 2017 celebrations of National Education Day on Friday, President David Granger announced that the Education Ministry is set to launch a Department of Education System Innovation and Reform [DESIR] programme.
This is as that ministry seeks to enhance the quality of education to better cater for the special needs of students throughout the country.
In order to best accomplish this mission, the Government has embarked on a nationwide consultation process, to assess the needs of students in all corners of Guyana.
President David Granger
As such, the President, on Friday, disclosed that he has visited a number of educational institutions over the past two months with the view to interacting with both the teachers and students, to listen to their concerns and recommendations. This list includes the Cyril Potter College of Education, President’s College, Queen’s College, and the Kuru Kuru Training Centre.
Alluding to his visits, Granger pointed out: “This is why we have been able to plan our innovation and reform, because our ideas are founded on reality and our ideas are founded on what people need.”
Moreover, he highlighted, “We will improve the delivery of education. Department of Education System Innovation and Reform is a reality. Innovation will lead to improvement, nothing will stand still.”
Stemming from the preliminary findings, the Head of State explained, the application of information technology will be an important component of education reform in Guyana. Moreover, he indicated that this is to facilitate distance education, providing students in outlying communities with the opportunity to access tertiary education without having to leave their homes.
Moreover, he noted that, as a part of the reform, there will be an application of education methods suited to our geographical.
“We are committed to universal secondary and primary education… Schools and the entire education system, expensive as they are, are not liabilities; they are assets, and we will continue to spend because spending money on education is money well spent,” Granger boldly expressed.
Sharing in the excitement for impending new and improved education system while delivering remarks at the event on Friday was Minister Nicolette Henry, who is of the same view that there should be no limit to the amount of money invested in the development of the nation’s youth.
Even as she looks forward to the impending changes, Henry reflected on measures taken thus far in laying the foundation for this reform. She outlined the overarching priorities of the Education Ministry, thereby indicating that such interests would be addressed as the Ministry moves ahead with the reorganization and enhancements.
“The Government has, as a principal objective of its public policy, to strengthen the administration of the ten regions and to improve the delivery of education and other public services. As part of that policy, there will be the establishing of regional technical institutes to provide access to technical education for a greater number of the country’s young people,” the Education Minister stated.
Adding to that are the goals of “improving the quality of our education with continued revised teaching methods, and embracing the enhancement of technology in the classroom and ensuring every child has access to quality education,” according to Henry.
Shortly after taking office, the coalition Government established a Commission of Inquiry into the existing state of education in Guyana, with the preliminary findings being released earlier this year.
