Remigrant Guyanese resuscitates UG Physics Department

Nov 06, 2010 News

There are some subject areas that will always require extra efforts to ensure their sustenance.
In the low scenario, physics has been found to be a very challenging subject at all levels including at the level of secondary schools, university and even teacher training, said Director of the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), Mohandatt Goolsaran.
The situation at the university in the area of physics deteriorated so drastically over the years that the physics department had to be closed down, he said. However, it was the voluntary service offered by Professor Lloyd Kunar that the department was resuscitated and continues to thrive even today.
Professor Kunar who is currently attached to the Faculty of Technology and Natural Sciences at the University of Guyana is himself a product of Queen’s College. Having completed his schooling years at the premier school he was privileged to study at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica and also in Canada.
He holds a bachelors degree with special honours in physics, three masters degree in Upper Atmosphere Physics, Geo Physics and Petroleum Engineering and a Doctorate in Geo Physics.
He taught physics at the University of Guyana from 1965 through 1978 when he left for UWI, Trinidad, where he took up a post as the Head of the Physics Department. The master physicist has over the years taught under graduate and post graduates petroleum engineering students at UWI from 1978 through 1992.
So exceptional was his work that he was appointed Director at the Trinidad State Oil Company. He subsequently left for the United States in 1992 and was later offered the position of Director of Science and Technology at St Phillips Academy of Science. Among his professional forte was the formulating of advanced physics question for the US and advanced placement reader for physics.
However, his undying passion to see physics return to a place of prominence in the school system has driven Professor Kunar back to his homeland.
According to Goolsaran, the university mandated the Professor to revive the subject area but the Ministry of Education has decided to promote the subject area in a big way countrywide. A one-day workshop at NCERD was held on Friday in this regard.
“We decided that we will promote physics in a big way and we are using here as a platform for creating this widen base of persons skilful in the area of physics. Students need to appreciate the work of physicists all around and we need teachers to promote physics in a large way…”
But according to Goolsaran although the subject area does not attract a wide cross-section, those that indulge in the area have been allowing the Ministry to record excellent results. The problem, he noted, is that Guyana lacks the capability to build a large enough critical mass to deal with the country’s national development as it moves ahead.
“We have been getting excellent results in Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) and Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) levels but the numbers are way under 1,000 which is not good enough if we are going to forge national development.” Several students pursuing physics at the CAPE level were selected to participate in the workshop which was conducted by Professor Lloyd Kunar.
It is expected that the selected students will, in another few years, play a major role in the promotion of physics by pursuing a straight degree in physics at the University of Guyana.
It is expected that with the Professor’s support the importance of physics as it relates to National Development and its linkages to the other sciences will be fully realised.
It was also intended to motivate science teachers and build innovative skills for effective curriculum delivery; to provide information on the use of technology in teaching and to encourage teachers to develop their own activities using low cost materials.

Latest News

Remigrant Guyanese resuscitates UG Physics Department

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | November, 15th, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Brewley’s ‘glut’ inspires Hard Knocks to ExxonMobil Futsal...

Final T20 between England and West Indies washed...

Zion Gray propels Eagles to GBF Elite 16...

Looknauth stars as Anacondas lift inaugural GCB...

Gold is Money wins inaugural Chung Global...

Afraz Budhoo – A promising cricketing star...

Features/Columnists

Traditional media is still king

Rising Gun Crimes in the Caribbean: Urgent Action required by all

The Bully Pulpit

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

Remigrant Guyanese resuscitates UG Physics Department

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | November, 15th, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]