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Visually-impaired French teacher to open private academic institution
Being visually impaired does not deter retired certified French teacher Roy Maynard from continuing his drive towards academic stardom for all Guyana.
Soon to be opened in the East Coast Demerara village of Paradise is the Sholomo College of Excellence, which, according to Maynard, will assist greatly in lifting the bar of academic achievements on the East Coast and other outlying areas.
Sholomo College of Excellence is the brainchild of Maynard, who took his idea to several others persons and, soon after, formed a five-man board of directors to make the school a reality.
On the committee are Maynard, in the position of Secretary; Devon Dublin, as Chairman; and Jermaine Richmond, Kalbrey Barker, and Rawle Franklyn as committee members.
The almost completed school, which is situated close to the East Coast Railway Embankment on the outskirts of Paradise Village, will cater for the normal CXC curriculum as well as CAPE and GCE A Levels subjects.
The school will cater for students from forms one to six, and will also feature an adult education programme geared towards assisting persons with aspirations of attending the University of Guyana.
While the initial staff capacity is expected to be approximately fifteen, Maynard is, however, optimistic that this figure will increase, since the student body will grow.
During an interview with Kaieteur News, Maynard related that, after teaching French at the Saint Stanislaus College for nine years, he retired two years ago from the position of Head of the Department of Modern Foreign Languages.
He believes that being an active member of this new school will help him to utilize his reservoir of skills, while at the same time contribute to the academic society.
Maynard also teaches History, Sociology, and English Literature, and is determined to put his abilities to the test in theses subject areas.
The school, according to Maynard, is situated in close proximity to the villages of Bare Root, Enterprise, Bachelor’s Adventure, Foulis and Enmore, and will go a far way in improving the academic status of persons in those communities.
It is the hope of the school’s board of directors that the institution will greatly benefit the youths of those areas as well as of other outlying areas along the East Coast.
Maynard is of the strong view that improved educational opportunities can lift entire communities out of poverty.
While it is expected that the new school will be officially opened in time for the new school year, Maynard indicated that the board of directors intends to start several summer classes for children along the East Coast and other areas.
He noted that, while a profit is not the foremost interest of the entity, cash charged for registration and other fees will be used to facilitate academic upliftment in society. He added that the school’s slogan of ‘Not Business, Community Service’ reflects that fact.
The adult education programme is expected to commence at the beginning of August, and will cater for the subject areas of Law, International Relations, Sociology, Communication Studies, English Literature, Mathematics and Information Technology.
These subjects will be offered at the CAPE Level also, according to Maynard.
He said that, in providing these subjects to school leavers and young adults, the facility is striving to have them renew their pursuit at academics.
Fees will vary based on the subject areas chosen, and persons will be advised as to their choice of studies and urged to pursue areas that will most benefit them, depending on the professions they seek.
The school will also be offering ‘Enrichment Subjects’ in the form of Art and Craft, Physical Education and Music, since Maynard feels most of theses areas, especially Music, have fallen down in the school system.
Food and Nutrition will also be added to the school’s curriculum.
Maynard also disclosed plans of starting a ‘Scouts Troupe,’ which will not be confined to students, but will inculcate members of various communities.
Maynard said the school’s board of directors intends for the facility to become a focal point for community activities and, as such, will encourage the participation of several villagers that are not enrolled on the school’s academic programme.
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