Dr. Surendra Persaud launches new scholarship fund

Apr 21, 2016 News

—to benefit pupils of Number 68 Village primary
Three pupils of the Number 68 Village Primary School in Corentyne, Berbice, were the first to be awarded scholarships in the inaugural Anand and Sabitri Persaud Scholarship Foundation.

Dr Surendra Persaud (extreme left) and Dr Rupert Roopnaraine (extreme right) flank the pupils and others during Monday launch of the Scholarship Foundation.

The Foundation was on Monday launched by Dr. Surendra Persaud in honour of his parents. The recipients Davina Chunnu, Dalana Ally and Richael Seegobin, all of whom achieved exceptional grades at their assessments.
The programme is one that will provide stationery and academic assistance to the recipients throughout their school life, once they maintain academic excellence.
According to Dr. Persaud, in brief remarks, he, like his parents, Anand and Sabitri, both former teachers of the said school, believed in education and therefore dedicated their lives to the teaching profession.
In order to emphasise his parents’ interest in education, Dr. Persaud, who is Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), approached the Ministry of Education on behalf of the Scholarship Foundation in hopes of making it a reality. His enthusiasm backed by the support of the Education Ministry was enough to bring it to swift fruition.
According to Dr. Persaud the scholarship will be granted annually and will be monitored by the Regional Education Officer and the Department of Education, Region Six.
Speaking at a simple ceremony to launch the programme, Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, said that he believes that the most important thing the Ministry can do is to ensure that children in primary school receive a solid foundation.
His audience was a gathering of parents and children at the Number 68 Village, Corentyne, Berbice school, who were all eager to witness the launch of the Scholarship Foundation and the presentation of scholarships to the three pupils who attained 75 per cent and more at the last National Grade Two Assessment.
Dr. Roopnaraine noted that educating the whole child is his great ambition. He said that children ought not to be spending their waking hours “cramming” facts even as he added that, “every dimension of a child should be addressed at school, including active participation in music and sports activities.”
In directing focus on teachers, he pointed out that the vocation of teaching is an invaluable task and encouraged them to ensure that the natural inclination of children be developed.