Wrong things taking place at Guyana Technical institute

Sep 24, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,
Kindly permit me to register my concerns over what is transpiring at the Government Technical Institute (GTI), Woolford Avenue, Georgetown. Sir, I have a 17-year-old nephew who has been attending the institute for quite a while now. Just recently he brought to my attention some issues and being a disciplinarian, I regarded his complaints of being locked out from the institute as “wotlessness” on his part. However, because of his persistence, he had me driving through Woolford Avenue on Thursday morning where I saw approximately 25 students standing at the institute’s gate pleading with security personnel to be allowed in.

After I talked to a few of them, I learnt that they were locked out because they had arrived after 8:30 am. I chuckled at first I have to admit because I thought it served them right but after learning that these kids will have to wait until 11:15 to get into the compound, I became somewhat uneasy. I tried to shake this feeling but the thought of my nephew standing there was too much – I became agitated.
What kind of draconian measure is this? Some of these students told me that they reside on the East Bank of Demerara and as a resident of that area myself, I understood immediately how hard it is for them especially, with the road expansion project still going on there and all.
What draconian measure is this, Mr. Editor? Where is the flexibility? The Government of Guyana can pardon prisoners and yet children – babies in my eyes, are forced to stand in the scorching sun or to sit on a fallen lamp post or resort to bracing up against a fence to get shelter as they are laughed at by passers-by.
Is the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, aware of this? Is the Minister within the Ministry of Education, Nicolette Henry also aware of this? Who approved this kind of disciplinary action? Is this accepted internationally? I don’t know!
But what I do know is that it is criminal and a clear violation of human rights.
The institutes in Guyana have a responsibility to create a learning environment for students. The Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Education has even embarked on a mission to create a more conducive environment for children in the system.
Has the GTI Administration considered what they would tell parents/guardians should something happen to their children taking in to consideration that Woolford Avenue transforms in South Dakota Circuit after 9am?
Another issue I would like to bring to your attention Mr Editor is the issue of students having to pay $20 to photocopy study material. They are required to do so “every other day.” Also, students are required to purchase booklets valued at $100. They also required to do so “every other day.”
How is a poor family supposed to afford this especially if they are “banding their belly” to send their loved one (s) to learn a trade? Some kind of questionable thing is going on there.
Lastly, some students are required to have a camera phone to take pictures of themselves learning. Now, should it matter why a student is required to have a camera phone? Why can’t GTI buy a camera? Can a poor family afford – in this” guava season,” a phone “with a powerful camera”? What is going on at GTI?
Concerned Guardian/Citizen.

1 thoughts on “Wrong things taking place at Guyana Technical institute”

Surujpaul Rampersaud September 24, 2016 at 12:32 pm

The GTI provides for students within a wide catchment area and given the problems with transportation, it is obvious that some students will turn up late. Is there any study at the GTI to show the rate of lateness. This will determine whether there is the need to move the starting time of classes. Secondly, is there any record of those students who habitually turn up late with the thought of segregating habitual late arrivals from those who do it one upon a time.
I agree that being on time is good training for the job mart and a good personal trait. However, just closing the gate at eighty thirty is creating one shoe for all sizes.
The principal and staff needs to do an objective assessment of the situation and come up with workable solutions.