Teachers play pivotal role in shaping young minds for Guyana’s future – Natural Resources Minister

…as NAMS celebrates 50 years

Teachers have a pivotal role to play in shaping young minds for Guyana’s future. This is according to Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat. His comments came on Friday as he addressed students, parents, and teachers of New Amsterdam Multilateral Secondary School (NAMS) on the occasion of the school’s 50th anniversary.

“I am saying it as a former student of this school, a teacher myself too in the past – that there is no remuneration package that can truly be given to a teacher for the sacrifice and the work that they do… And the work that they do to ensure that each and every one of us can become somebody in our country. And that is their selfless job that they do every single day,” the Minister, himself a former student of NAMS, said in underscoring the important role teachers play in shaping the future of the country.
Speaking directly about the anniversary celebrations, Bharrat said the fifty years is a remarkable span of time to celebrate, as it encapsulates decades of transformative experiences, countless achievements and the successes of students.

“When you think of 50 years for this institution to maintain, it’s the kind of repetition that it has done over the years and achieved the results that it has achieved over the years. It means a lot. And that is why I started by saying we have a lot to celebrate.”
NAMS, often called “New Amsterdam Multilateral” or “NA Multi”, first opened its doors on September 15, 1975, originally under the name New Amsterdam Government Secondary School. At its launch, there were just 181 students and 11 teachers, and many students were transferred from Berbice High School. Over the decades, the school has grown both in size and in the range of subjects offered: from traditional academic subjects to technical and vocational disciplines. Throughout its history, NAMS has achieved significantly. Academically, the institution has produced top-performing students in both the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) in Regions Five and Six, occasionally achieving first place nationally or across the Caribbean in specific subjects.
More recently, it was recognised by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) in 2024, as Guyana’s model institution for delivering the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ), standing out among nine schools for its readiness, preparation and technical-vocational education standards. In terms of importance to Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), NAMS represent a key centre of secondary and vocational education, as it offers both academic and technical/vocational subjects. It serves many students who might otherwise have to travel far to access technical education.
NAMS’s presence in the Region helps raise educational standards, contributes skilled graduates to the workforce, and gives local students opportunities to excel at regional and national levels. Additionally, its achievements bring recognition and pride to Region Six, reinforcing the value of investment in education in more remote or non-metropolitan areas. Its performance in Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ), in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), consistent CSEC/CAPE results, and its role in community outreach all deepen its local impact.
Minister Bharrat, while pointing out that the current batch of students has one goal, which is to complete secondary school, said their parents are making sacrifices for them to attend the institution and be successful. Meanwhile, Former head teacher Elton “Slow Boy” Lewis, a pivotal figure in the school’s history, also addressed the gathering and congratulated the current staff as he expressed profound admiration for their unwavering commitment to upholding the school’s legacy. “Let me take the opportunity to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude to all who have made invaluable contributions to the development of the New Amsterdam Secondary School,” he said.