Education Minister gets Honorary
Doctorate
Advocating for the rights of children and women is undoubtedly ingrained in the anatomy of Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, whose tireless work in this regard saw her on Saturday being conferred with an Honorary Doctorate from the Lesley University in Boston Massachusetts, United States of America.
Minister Priya Manickchand being hooded as she receives her Honorary Doctorate. (Photo Credit: Lesley University)9
Manickchand, along with award-winning and prolific author of children’s and young adult books, Lois Lowry, were both recipients of Honorary Degrees when the University graduated 1,446.
The women were both recognised for their outstanding contributions and achievements, an indication that their respective diligence, over the years, has not gone unnoticed internationally.
Honorary Degrees are awarded to persons who have achieved distinction in their chosen fields and professions. Moreover, it was noted at the start of the graduation ceremony on Saturday, which was streamed live on the University’s website, that “Honorary Degree recipients make tangible a set of values we aspire to as an academic community. These individuals are models to us because of their intellectual engagement, professional achievement and civic commitment.”
Manickchand’s award was premised on the observation of University officials that her life has been dedicated to improving the lives of women, children and families in Guyana. Moreover, efforts were made to trace her professional career and attendance of a number of worldwide conferences that addressed issues of racial and gender equality, globally.
Although Manickchand was appointed Minister of Education in 2011, she had previously held the portfolio of Minister of Human Services and Social Security through which she was able to noticeably tackle the scourge of violence against women and children. Among her achievements, in this regard, has been the publication of a National Policy on Domestic Violence, which was presented to Parliament for passage into law of a series of Bills relating to care, development and protection of children.
She was also instrumental in initiating a countrywide campaign to stamp out sexual violence which realized the revolutionary Sexual Offences Law.
As Human Services Minister too, Manickchand also established the country’s lone Child Care and Protection Agency and expanded Legal Aid services allowing for access to justice for the vulnerable.
She was also the force behind the implementation of the Women of Worth (WOW) economic initiative, a programme that provides low interest and collateral free loans to single parent women from lower income brackets who are keen on becoming involved in the business sector.
As Minister of Education Manickchand, has been able to realize universal primary education and is already spearheading measures towards universal secondary education as well.
Moreover, University officials, Deborah Raizes, Chair, Board of Trustees and Joseph B. Moore, President, recognized Manickchand as “a true visionary” who was also instrumental in establishing a relationship between Guyana and Lesley University.
Manickchand in recognizing the need for mental health professionals to address the needs of vulnerable youth, families and communities, was able to work along with the University to develop a unique programme that educates School Counsellors and Social Workers to address the needs of Guyanese through Expressive Therapies, Counselling Psychology and Mindfulness Practice.
A total of 13 Guyanese teachers and social workers who undertook the programme at Lesley University recently graduated.
Moreover, a citation read to Manickhand on Saturday stated that “In recognition of your life’s work in service to your community, especially to the end of violence against women and children, and the education of all Guyanese young people, Lesley University is honoured to confer upon you the Honorary Degree, Doctor of Humane Letters.”
Both honorary awardees, Manickchand and Lowry, were required to deliver separate addresses to the graduates, an undertaking that Manickchand extensively laced with her gender-equality conviction. She passionately appealed to the graduates to embrace the global cause of gender equality, which can often be hampered by challenges including poverty, hunger, health care and even educational inequality.
And educational inequality is evident in some sections of the world, Manickchand observed, even as she pointed out that “when a girl is not allowed an education somewhere else in the world simply because she is a girl, it will affect your lives…because we are interconnected.” “Whatever your passion, whatever you plan to pursue, wherever you work, wherever you live, wherever you play, consciously and strategically set to use your value, your training here, to bring about gender equality,” Manickchand told the graduates