Better Hope NDC Initiates ICT, Literacy, other programmes for residents

Jan 26, 2020 News

Without Education there can be no development in a country. Realizing this, the Better Hhope Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) has taken upon itself to foster development in the Education Sector.
The local government body has created an Information & Communication Technology Hub at its office. The hub which is equipped with 20 computers offers ICT classes to the public on a daily basis, from 10:00AM to 6:00PM. There is also a special focus on children between the hours of 3:00-6:00PM.
The instructor of these classes also assists students with their homework and assignments.
The NDC also boasts one of the largest public libraries in the country. According to the NCD’s Chairman, Zaman Shaw, the “library has more than 10,000 books.”
The library also provides basic educational classes to the residents, with a special session for “slow learners” or children with learning disabilities.
Mr. Ramkaran Budhram, a Councilor at the NDC, explained that the “Librarian spends time assisting children who have trouble reading and generally learning at the general speed of children, their age.”
In addition to this, Shaw and Budhram explained that the focus on education does not end at the library.
Mr. Shaw said that within the NDC’s catchment area there are 10 government schools, and at least three private schools, all of which the NDC supports independently without Government funds.
He added that in addition to routine services such as debushing, desilting of drains, and garbage collection, the NDC staff usually pool their private funds to assist the schools in any way possible, especially during school programmes and events.
They even give small grants to children who excel at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) & Caribbean Secondary Examination Council (CSEC) Exams.
Budhram also alluded to the fact that the NDC reaches out to parents who cannot afford to have their children write the NGSA & CSEC Examinations; after, doing so a mechanism is put in place to assist the family with the cost.
Further, councilors attached to the NDC attend all Parent-Teachers’ Meetings (PTA) at these schools. This allows them to be up to date with issues affecting the schools and the students and even be able to rectify those on the spot.
Shaw also noted that there are further plans to support the education system, but these are currently hindered by the fact that the NDC has not yet received its 2019 or its 2016 subventions.

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