The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) company has pledged its support towards online learning which has become the norm during the COVID-19 pandemic. Making this announcement on Monday was the company’s CEO, Justin Nedd, who assured that the telecoms giant will lend support to assist parents, teachers and students with the tools they need for at-home learning.
Nedd said that Guyana, like the rest of the world, is facing unprecedented times. He said that COVID-19 is not only a health issue, but a big-time social issue and one of macro-economic concern. But despite the foregoing, he added that GTT is focused on the children since they are the ones who will secure Guyana’s future. In this regard, he disclosed that GTT is working along with the Education Ministry.
“GTT is focused on the children. We are working with the Ministry of Education right now. I don’t want to pre-empt the Minister. I anticipate she will have some announcements to make,” he added. In addition, he said that the company is also working at the community level to provide assistance for those who are less privileged.
“We are also working with communities. One of our team members is from Mahaica. We are going into that community and providing our services for the less privileged.” He said that the pandemic is a situation that no one anticipated and its magnitude will be felt for years, probably generations to come.
Education Minister Priya Manickchand
Nedd promised that GTT will do whatever it can to ensure that no child is left behind. “Because as cliché as it sounds, the children really will secure our future. It is a tough situation, but I think once we get out of this, and we will, history will be on our side in terms of the work we have put in to make this easy as possible.”
In mid-March, the Education Ministry announced the closure of schools following the rise in positive COVID-19 cases in Guyana. Schools have only been reopened to facilitate the sitting of the National Grade Six Examination (NGSA) and those for the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC).
Education Minister, Priya Manickchand announced that schools will remain closed in September, as authorities continue to review and evaluate the situation amid the COVID-19 pandemic. She has been constantly having dialogues with stakeholders in the health and education sectors, along with the Guyana Teachers’ Union on if it would be possible to reopen schools next month.
At those discussions, Minister Manickchand related that the safety of educators and students is of utmost importance. She pointed out that for schools to be reopened, schools and their respective administrative bodies need proper protective gears and facilities to enable safe learning. The Ministry is currently engaging in creating such an environment.
Until such time, the Education Minister assured that all efforts will be made to ensure every student is academically engaged until the physical reopening of schools can be allowed. In the meantime, the Learning Channel will actively work to assist these initiatives.
