Teacher Training College graduates celebrate Golden Jubilee

Dec 02, 2010 News

By Samuel Whyte

This year marks 50 years since the 1959-1960 batch of 150 teachers graduated from the then Government Training College (GTC) which was situated at Battery Road Kingston. It was half a century ago, even before more than half of Guyana’s population was born that this batch of teachers entered the profession as trained teachers.
The institution has seen a number of name changes. Once named the Teachers Training College (TTC) it accommodated the Lillian Dewar College for Education (LDCE) for Secondary Teachers and The Cyril Potter College OF Education (CPCE) for Primary Teachers. Now it is has one name the CPCE and is situated at Turkeyen Georgetown with branches in the three counties.
That 1959-1960 batch marked the first time that such a large batch of teachers was selected to be trained full time.
Before then the number was no more than 30. The persons selected were all unqualified teachers and were drawn from all parts of Guyana. They were selected to participate in a one-year programme. Some were residential while others sought residence nearby.
The principal was Francis Vaughn-Cooke and some of the lecturers were William Mc Donald, A.A Charles, Joyce Trotman, Samuel Small, Jacob Bynoe, Agnes Jones, Edna Cadogan and Blanche Duke and a Mr Samaroo.
Back then there was no nursery programme and the teachers were selected to be trained in primary and secondary education. Every one of the teachers came out successful.
Today 50 years later none of those teachers are in active teaching service. About 25 per cent are deceased while more that 50 percent are living overseas. A few still work at the profession but in a private capacity.
Not all the teachers who graduated, then, remained in the teaching profession, but many went on to become Headmasters, Deputy Headmasters, Education and Regional Educational Officers. Oswald Kendall rose to the rank of Chief Education Officer; Fitz Carmichael became a Minister of Government. Some went into the legal field and rose to the ranks of magistrates both locally and overseas. Ther were those who became professors, bankers, engineers and businessmen. This was the lot of that golden jubilee batch. Two of the graduates also rose to the rank of President of the Guyana Teachers Union.
To commemorate their 50th year since leaving College the group has planned a one-day activity at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE).
The activity is set for Wednesday December 8, beginning at 10:00hrs. During the ceremony a plaque will be unveiled at the college and a 29-inch Flat Screen TV and DVR will be presented to the institution to be used in the special education department.
Many of the former teachers, some travelling from overseas are expected to be there. Minister of Education Sheik Baksh has been invited to unveil the plaque and deliver a message.
The programme is expected to be chaired by Daphne Rogers, one of the graduates. Any Member of the Batch who has not been contacted are asked to make contact with telephone numbers 327-7428 or 332-0068 for further information.

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Teacher Training College graduates celebrate Golden Jubilee

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