“No excuses” – Manickchand on students’ access to learning materials

Education Minister Priya Manickchand has made it clear that when it comes to, access to learning materials, there should be no excuses anymore as the ministry has been making significant investments to ensure every child is properly equipped to attain a sound education.

The minister made this point on Wednesday at a visit to the Charity Secondary School where she launched the Mathematics Intervention Programme along the Essequibo Coast. This programme is designed to raise the national pass rate to between 45 per cent and 50 per cent at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) level, a significant increase from the current 31 per cent.
While speaking to attendees during the launching ceremony, the education minister revealed that the mathematics performance at the school this year was considerably low.
“So, to get real, let me just tell you that in 2024, Eight (8) percent of the population in this school passed mathematics.”
On this point, given the unique challenges learners in far flung communities face, the minister noted that the ministry has developed a number of initiatives that will significantly increase the mathematics pass rate.
“We’re doing this is specifically for children like you, because Georgetown has a number of lessons that children can go to. These areas don’t have those kinds of resources, so we are specifically doing that so your children could benefit from expert lessons. And in those lessons, we tell you what exercises you can do from what page in the book. If you do that, just that, I’m telling you your chances of passing will increase by over 60 percent.”
However, the minister stressed that parents have a major role to play in ensuring that this initiative is successful. In fact, the minister warned that parents should have no excuse as to why their child is unable to access learning resources being made available by the ministry.
“If you don’t send your children to school, they will fail exams. It’s as simple as that. If you don’t let them supervise them using the resources, they’re not going to benefit from those resources. What is more expensive? Internet for nine months to watch just this show or your child having to repeat or not having the productive adult life she has to get? Because those are some of the real choices you have to get but, in every home, you have to prioritize what’s needed too. And if at this point, we’re saying two videos a week, the school has internet, and your child knows that yesterday a video was shown on the Learning Channel, which they can’t get. The first thing they should do on Monday morning is download it so that they can watch it at their own pleasure.”

Math performance
Meanwhile, in light of the persistent decline in mathematics performance at all levels, the Education Ministry is taking a bold step with a targeted initiative aimed at transforming math outcomes across Guyana. This intervention comes at a critical time. While the pass rate for Additional Mathematics saw an increase to 53 per cent, core Mathematics results continue to fall short. To reverse this trend, the Ministry is focusing on schools with historically low performance, particularly at the Form Four and Five levels in CSEC.
As part of the initiative students will now have access to a range of enhanced resources, including past exam papers, scientific calculators, and textbooks. The initiative also introduces national mock exams, diagnostic tests, and bi-weekly lessons aired on the Guyana Learning Channel. Additionally, a math hotline, “736 MATH,” has been launched for students to seek help when facing challenges.
In an unprecedented move, the ministry is holding both schools and teachers directly accountable for their students’ math results. With the ministry’s focus on accountability, support, and specialised instruction, this aggressive approach marks a turning point in tackling one of Guyana’s most pressing educational challenges. While the road to a 45-50 per cent pass rate in math may be difficult, the ministry is determined to ensure that the nation’s students are well-equipped for success.