Huge surge in demand for secondary education in 2011 - Minister Baksh
-at National Awards ceremony

Georgetown GINA, October 19, 2011
Source - GINA

Deputy Chief Education Officer, Donna Chapman presenting a trophy to CSEC top performer, Anurada Dev.

Guyana’s top academic performers were today recognised for their outstanding achievements at the National Grade Six Assessment, Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE).

The best CSEC overall performer award was presented to Anurada Dev while Kia Persaud was recognised as the top CAPE performer.

Awards were also given to the most improved primary school – Taymouth Manor, Region 2; most improved junior secondary school – East Ruimveldt Multilateral; and the most improved senior secondary school – St. Rose’s High.

The 2010/2011 top performers were recognised at an award ceremony hosted by the Education Ministry under the theme “Progress in Education: from access to success”, and is a part of Education Month celebrations.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds commending the top performers on their achievement.

Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds in his address acknowledged that education is an extremely important process for a society. “For society to be sustained and to survive the process of educating the young ones is quite possibly an important task,” PM Hinds noted.

He indicated that education is a path for all to advance so as to make youths the best they can be while also being empowered to contribute to society.

Prime Minister Hinds indicated his satisfaction with the rising interest, over the years, in educating the youths in light of the challenges and distractions that include the internet, cell phones and the television.

He called on the students to learn from those who have done well in education and, those who seem to say that Guyanese cannot achieve anything, should be put aside, he advised.

Education Minister, Shaik Baksh commended the top performers for their achievement which he emphasised could not have been attained unless they had strong support from their schools and dedicated teachers. He applauded all teachers for their dedication towards the improved performance.

“Both the Guyana Teachers’ Union and teachers are on board as we modernize the education system of Guyana, as we revamp the education (system), as we implement new strategies, new policy initiatives, the new programmes to improve education in Guyana, and this is being driven by a strong vision shared by all the top managers of the Ministry of Education, educators, and a vision that is well supported by the Government of Guyana,” Minister Baksh said.

Students from various schools gathered at the National Cultural Centre to celebrate with Guyana’s top academic performers.


Minister Baksh recognised the large sums of money that have been allocated towards the advancement of education in Guyana with the largest ever, in history, being expended in 2011.

The Ministry is on the pathway towards moving the education system upwards and improving learning outcomes. These include the inculcation of knowledge and competencies so that students across Guyana can continue their education, training, skills acquired can be translated in the world of work and the promotion of values, attitudes and skills that enable active participation in society, and importantly the education received will increase productivity.

Minister Baksh emphasised that the Ministry is working towards achieving 100 percent access to pre-primary education by the end of the Education Strategic Plan period in 2013 while at the primary level the 100 percent mark has already been achieved. Additionally, there is also 100 percent access to secondary education with 15 percent being enrolled in the secondary departments of some primary schools.

Guyana’s 2010/2011 top academic performers.

“This year there has been a huge surge in demand for secondary education across our country not only in the coast land but also in the hinterland communities, and this has put some pressure on our school system,” Minister Baksh stated. In response to this, the Ministry has already drawn up a five-year plan, which will be implemented, to provide more places in the dormitories and secondary schools.

At the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) and the University of Guyana there has been an increase in the number of persons enrolled at the start of the new school year. In this regard, Minister Baksh noted that Government recognises the need for more attention to be placed on tertiary education.

Chief Education Officer, Olato Sam said that such levels of academic accomplishments are the results of years of commitment, dedication and tireless devotion to the pursuit of intellectual superiority.

“These are the intangible awards that give educators the resolve to persist in the face of some, sometimes daunting challenges,” he said. Sam emphasised that while today’s event acknowledges the accolades of the students, teachers are also being recognised for their efforts. He also recognised the work of the hard-working team of Education Managers spread across Guyana for their efforts towards ensuring consistent progress in Guyana.

Sam indicated that the Ministry’s efforts are now bearing fruit, and can be seen in consistent growth reflected the CSEC performance indicators and in secondary performance in general.

“Unprecedented numbers of our students are now given the opportunity to write CSEC and marked consistent improvements in areas of English language, the sciences, business, even emerging areas of discrete studies such as IT, physical education and others are highly encouraging while we continue to improve our standards in the area of mathematics,” he said.

Additionally, exceptional performance has been recorded in the technical and vocational subjects. “What must be noted also is that there is greater equity in the performance at the secondary level … in recent years we have been seeing more schools in Guyana produce greater number of students with the requisite matriculation requirements for higher education,” the CEO emphasised. This aspect is critical as the Ministry strives towards achieving secondary education.