CPCE graduates receive free laptops

Jan 21, 2013 News

Smiles were on the faces of 36 teachers from Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) Johns Centre on receiving their free laptops last week, courtesy of the World Bank.
The ceremony took place at the college’s secondary centre on the Corentyne.
At the 2012 graduation ceremony, which was held at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) for teacher-trainees from the Cyril Potter College of Education, Mr. David Granger in delivering his charge to graduands said, “We are working on the proposal for every teacher to have his/her own computer”.
Just after Mr. Granger completed his charge to the graduates, the principal Mrs. Debbie Thomas told the graduates from the 2010 batch that they will be having free laptops in a matter of days.
Students from the Johns Centre were asked to be at the Berbice centre for 14:00 hrs on Monday 14th January, 2013 to uplift their laptops.
Thirty- six eligible teachers from the 2010 Cohort, Rose Hall Johns Centre received computers. Ronaldo Eastman, a teacher from a Secondary School in New Amsterdam and Ms. Diana Algu from Manchester Secondary who copped Best Graduating Student in the Associate Degree in Education (ADE) program were among the recipients.
Mr. Eastman graduated from CPCE with a Distinction. He started teacher-training in November 2010, with his major being Mathematics and Minor English. Mr. Eastman, in sharing one of his best experiences while being a student-teacher at CPCE Johns Centre said, “My first and best experience was working with my colleagues, especially my group study team that was set up in New Amsterdam, which included Roxanne Gomes, Shellyann and myself”.

Some of the teachers pose with their laptops

He added, “We took Ms. Beverley Baker’s (Head of Centre) advice and formed a study group. This study group has helped us tremendously, since the time that is allotted for this ADE programme was not enough. Intense discussions were made during these sessions on modules and concepts. Because of this, we were able to better handle examination questions more confidently”. Mr. Ronaldo also shared one of his bad experiences. He said, “receiving results late was very frustrating, not only for me but for my colleagues. To me, this is not the fault coming from the satellite centres, but more so from Turkeyen. I am positively sure that Turkeyen can do much better”.
“Firstly, I want to say thanks to all those who made this event possible. I can now use this device in my classroom to help deliver the curriculum in a more efficient way since our world is advancing… it’s about time for teachers to join in”. Eastman stated, “even though we are years behind technology, we are thankful today for this free laptop”.
Ms. Khemwattie Diana Algu, Best Graduating Student country- wide for the ADE programme, in making her comments said, “Receiving timetable a week before examinations was appalling. Turkeyen really needs to work on this defaulter. Also, the time that student receives the results, my God! This is a pain by its self. This sometimes really confuses me. Were it not for the study group, I don’t know what would have happened. Nevertheless, my CPCE experience would ever be a part of me. It would be a fascinating story that I would love to share with my children”.
Ms. Algu, in extending her thanks for receiving her free laptop said, “at least CPCE has done one good thing for us, so I would like to extend my gratitude to the World Bank and CPCE for making this possible. She also said, “I want to thank Ms. Baker, (HOC), Mr. Tejpratap, the Secretary, and all the tutors. To my colleagues, kudos must be given to you all”.
ADE 2010 graduates from other centres across the country will also receive laptops shortly.