Education Month begins… Minister, CEO advocate strong partnerships for children’s growth

Sep 02, 2008 News

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The activities of Education Month kicked off yesterday with a prayer breakfast at the Kingston Headquarters of the Red Cross Society. This was attended by top officials of the Education Ministry.
With soothing renditions from the Parkside Steel Orchestra, the early morning forum presented an ideal atmosphere for the officials to reflect on their experiences of the past year and to consider the way forward as it relates to parents and teachers taking on the responsibility of moulding children academically.
Preluding well orchestrated sermonettes from leaders of the three main religious bodies (Hindu, Christian and Muslim), Chief Education Officer (ag), Ms Genevieve Whyte-Nedd, said that the solemn forum which, has its genesis in the year 2006, was intended to commend and accentuate the performance of the sector over the past year.
As such, she noted, it posed a splendid opportunity for officials to extend gratitude and to seek guidance, even as she pointed out the enormous magnitude of the sector.
She added, though, that even with its several departments, the Education Ministry cannot derive success unless each official is energised and seeks to synchronise efforts towards achieving outlined goals.
Additionally, she asserted that the sector can in no way thrive alone, since the assistance of other sectors and even non-governmental organisations is crucial to its ultimate survival.
And among these important coalitions, Ms Whyte-Nedd said, is the family; hence the emphasis on this notion in the Education Month theme, ‘Education of the child: a parent and teacher obligation.’
In brief remarks to the gathering, Minister Fox pointed out that the goal and purpose of the Ministry of Education’s Strategic Plan 2008-2012 advocate that the system of education is aimed at raising the standard of living in Guyana, as well as providing quality education and training at all levels.
This, as a result, she said, will serve to help eliminate illiteracy, modernise education and strengthen tolerance.
It is for this reason, she noted, that the Government, through the Ministry of Education, has always aspired to develop a society with citizens who will have a strong sense of self, a clear sense of identity, and be in a position to reach their full potential.
However, the minister asserted that such a development can only be achieved when citizens are accommodated with a quality education system built on standards that are supported by a sound philosophical approach.
“The Ministry of Education’s Strategic Plan is an embodiment of this vision of delivering to this nation quality education and the understanding that every child has an inherent right to education which will enhance the development of maximum capabilities, regardless of gender, ethnic, economic, social and religious background. Every child has the ability to learn, and we must build on this positive assumption. It follows that education is fundamental to the overall development of Guyana.”
Moreover, she divulged that the education sector must endeavour to develop a spiritually, morally, physically, intellectually and emotionally sound individual.
And in order to create a progressive society, she posited, education plays a key role in maintaining order and decency, thus the local system must work at improving the ethical and moral concerns that are central to human development and survival.
“Fundamental constructs such as decency, justice, respect, kindliness, equality, love, honesty and sensitivity remain major determinants of the survival of Guyana’s multi-cultural society…”
As a result, the minister revealed, Guyana’s educational policy particularly embraces the idea that the parents and the home have major responsibility for the welfare of the child, and that the wellbeing of the child can be best served by a very strong partnership between the community and the school.
This notion, she added, is articulated in the Education Ministry’s Policy Paper on Education Sector Reform and Innovation, of July 2008.
The paper, she disclosed, emphasises the immense need for community and Parent/Teacher Association (PTA) participation in education. She underscored the fact that education is public business since it is reliant on tax payers’ money.
Parents, as a result, are seen as vital to PTA at schools, the minister added.
And in order to further emphasise the need for the involvement of children, the minister disclosed that it is the desire of the Education Ministry to extend the activities for Education Month with a view to introducing outreaches in the communities along the Coastland, in order to highlight education issues.
As such, she cautioned the officials in attendance that there is a lot of work to be done to ensure that even the parents of children at the grassroots level are able to effectively contribute to the education process.
The activities for Education Month will continue on Friday with the launching of a national gardening competition at the Practical Instruction Centre at D’Urban Backlands in the city.

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