The Education Ministry on Tuesday marked the 40th anniversary of nursery education in Guyana with a simple ceremony at the Roxanne Burnham Gardens Nursery School.
The Ministry, as part of Education Month observances, held the special ceremony to mark 40 years of development in early childhood education.
Acting CEO Marcel Hutson at the simple ceremony on Tuesday
It was back in 1976 that the Education Ministry in Guyana took under its wings the bottom house kindergarten schools, which were privately owned. Today, the system celebrates 40 years; a timeline that is said to have done tremendously well for the nation’s children.
Assistant Chief Education Officer with responsibility for Nursery Education (ACEO-N) Ingrid Trotman in her presentation said 40 years ago only 19,000 children were enrolled in 380 nursery schools. In 2016, the Ministry’s records indicate that 26,500 children are currently enrolled in 332 discrete schools and 142 nursery classes in Guyana. Across the country, there are 1700 nursery teachers, three of whom are males.
The two-year nursery education programme from 1984-2016 has had eight Assistant Chief Education Officers. Trotman took the opportunity to express the Ministry’s gratitude to each past ACEO for their sterling contribution to advancing nursery education in Guyana. Among the names she mentioned were Norma Baichoo who served at the first ACEO-N from 1984-1990; Pamela Henry (1990-1994); Genevieve Whyte-Nedd (1994-1999); Romeo McAdam (1999-2000); Shirley Mentis-King (2001-2003); Jacqueline Waithe (2004-2007); and Doodmattie Singh (2007-2011).
According to Trotman, the Education Ministry has been working to improve the delivery of early childhood/nursery education. The establishment of the non-academic standards for nursery schools in 2002; production of the nursery education handbook in 2005; launch of the early childhood literacy and numeracy programmes and curriculum guides in 2006; production of the Roraima Reader Series between 2013-2015: and, continuous capacity training and provision of teaching materials are among the Ministry’s long list of achievements.
In addition to this, the Ministry has constructed and commissioned a number of nursery schools which meet standards set out by the Caribbean Community (Caricom) namely, Tuschen Nursery – Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Diamond, Good Hope, and Beterverwagting – Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Ithaca Nursery – Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Number 77 – Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), and Turkeyen, Roxanne Burnham, and Cummings Park Nursery Schools in Georgetown.
Meanwhile, Acting Chief Education Officer (CEO) Marcel Hutson said nursery education remains a critical role in the life of children. He said that nursery schooling provides a good head start for learning and that incorporating creative and fun methods helps to put children on a path to lifelong learning. Hutson stated too that at a basic level, certain types of facilities are necessary. He said a neat and hygienic environment, trained soft speaking teachers, colourful classrooms, toys, a rest corner, drawing boards, playgrounds, safe drinking water, and flash cards are among the necessities for good educational outcomes. Huston called on stakeholders to pitch in and help to ensure that every child receives a good education.
“It is against this background I would like to extend a call to all stakeholders to let us collectively work to positively impact the lives of our little ones that in future they will fulfil purpose… Together we can do the extraordinary,” the acting CEO said.
The inclusion of nursery education in the public system gave rise to the development of the Early Childhood Education Programme which allowed for teachers to be trained for two years of nursery in addition to the first two years primary education, now called Grades One and Two.
Research has shown that when teachers embarked on this programme, they were better equipped to prepare students for the transition from nursery to primary.
In Guyana, teachers are trained at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) and the University of Guyana (UG).
Meanwhile, a number of other events have been planned to celebrate Guyana’s 40 years of Nursery Education including an exhibition of teaching/learning materials which will be held today at 09:00h at the Liana Nursery School. The early childhood education campaign “Parents, Teachers, Children and Friends” in concert will be hosted on September 15, 2016 at 13:00h at the Police Officers Mess, Eve Leary and a rally on September 16, 2016 at 08:30h from Stabroek Square to Durban Park (Vlissengen Road, Mandela Ave). An award ceremony for Nursery Educators with 35+ years of service will also be hosted.
