Some 487 students from six schools across Guyana will benefit from developmental, leadership and life-skills training as the National Cadet Corps (NCC) programme is reintroduced.
After months of consultations with stakeholders, the programme was re-launched on Friday at Hope Secondary School, on the East Coast of Demerara, under the motto “Moulding today’s youth, securing our future”. It is being spearheaded by the Education Ministry in collaboration with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the Social Cohesion Ministry and the regional administration.
GDF Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Patrick West and Ministers George Norton and Nicolette Henry along with officials from the various Ministries pose with some of the participants of the newly reintroduced National Cadet Corps
The 400 plus participants were taken from schools such as North Ruimveldt Multilateral, Stewartville Secondary, Hope Secondary, Berbice Secondary, St Ignatius Secondary and the Mackenzie High School. The cadets will receive training in a number of areas including environmental and dexterity training, communication skills and academic training in modern language, civic education and home management.
Delivering his address at the opening ceremony, Social Cohesion Minister with responsibility for culture, youth and sport, Dr George Norton reaffirmed his commitment to programmes which are designed to foster the development of all Guyanese, particularly youths.
The Minister commended the course content which contains a number of activities aimed at moulding and transforming the cadets into productive citizens.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Nicolette Henry said the programme is designed to produce youths who have the “seriousness of purpose to fulfil their potential as good citizens with the spirit of Guyanese culture and renewed values”.
A section of the gathering at the re-launching of the National Cadet Corps programme on Friday at Hope Secondary School
Meanwhile, outlining that the re-launch of the National Cadet Corps is a directive from the Commander-in-Chief, President David Granger, Chief-of-Staff of the GDF, Brigadier Patrick West highlighted that the programme aims at building character and teaching young people life skills in preparing them for adulthood.
“The programme therefore, aims to build character and teach young people vital life skills for tomorrow’s world which includes, but is not limited to, technical education,” Brigadier West said.
The Chief-of-Staff went on to urge parents and students gathered at the event to seize the opportunity presented to them, as he pledged the Army’s continuous support.
GDF’s second component, the Guyana People’s Militia, was re-established back in December 2015 despite much criticism by sections of society.
Friday’s launching concluded with much ceremonial pomp and flare as schools participating in the programme entertained the Ministers with poetry recitals, from the students of the host school, steel pan renditions from the North Ruimveldt Steel Pan Orchestra and a march pass from the COFORNA Drum Corps.
Chief Education Officer, Marcel Hutson and the Assistant Director of Youth Leslyn Boyce also attended the ceremony.
