An effective education system

The new administration’s post-2015 development education agenda for not only Region Three but the country, as spelt out in Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan’s Budget 2015 presentation is to work towards the realisation of a vision where all citizens have equitable access to high quality education and learning opportunities, and where education is positioned as the key intermediary, through which the foundation is laid for a robust and competitive economy, as well as an inclusive and socially cohesive society.”

 Inclusive and equitable access

With 46 nursery and 58 primary schools, the enabling environment for nursery and primary learning in the Essequibo Islands/West Demerara region has already been created. In moving forward, the new administration will seek to fulfill the goal of inclusive and equitable access to secondary education in the region, with emphasis on providing and expanding access to education to the riverain areas.

 Universal access to secondary education

 Universal Secondary Education is one of the key areas of focus for the Ministry of Education, and as it relates to Region Three, the Ministry has already accomplished much to ensure that every single, secondary age student is able to access discreet secondary education, as opposed to some of the primary-tops, that existed in the region. At present, the Ministry is just around 80 to 90 percent along this continuum.

Over the next two years, it will attempt to meet 100 percent of the entire requirement for secondary education in the region. In this regard, there will be two aspects: ensuring that the 14 secondary schools are functioning, to adequately meet the needs of the region, and constructing new schools.

To do this, the Ministry, just a few years ago, built a new school at Leonora, with the capacity for over 700 students. At present, the ministry is set to complete the expansion of the Zeeburg Secondary school, with the capacity for an additional 800 students, whilst the construction of a new school in the huge Parfaite Harmonie scheme will cater for a growing student population.

Riverain areas

In addressing the needs of the riverain areas, in addition to creating the infrastructure, the focus is on putting in place transportation and other arrangements, towards ensuring that every child of secondary school age, irrespective of geographical location in the region, can still take advantage of educational opportunities.

This effort is highlighted in the region’s 2015 budget, where under its education capital expenditure, an allotment of $24M provides for the purchase of a boat and engine. This will boost the improvement of supervisory visits to schools in Wakenaam, Leguan and the Essequibo River. It will also assist in the distribution of juice and biscuits and all other materials, including text books to riverain schools.

Post-secondary education

Expanding access to education opportunities could see more focus on post-secondary education, in the very near future. Currently, the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination is being offered in Region Three, but the regional administration, with support from Central Government wants to move beyond this. To this end, there is discussion at the secondary level, to establish one institution to offer Caribbean Proficiency Advanced Examination (CAPE) in the region. The goal is to have the West Demerara Secondary School offer the examination as soon as September 2016.

ICT

The drive is also on modernising the classrooms in the region, to make them more conducive to learning in a 21^st century environment. Right now, all, the region’s secondary schools have functioning Information Communication Technology (ICT) laboratories. The next objective is to then ensure that the primary schools, over the next few years, get ICT facilities. For that, the focus will be on putting in the necessary infrastructure to accommodate those, since the primary schools’ structures currently were not built with that in mind.

An ICT lab in a Region Three Secondary School

Equitable performance

Emphasis is also on ensuring that performance levels improve in the region, and that there are some degrees of equity in relation to that output. Over the years, schools such as the West Demerara Secondary and those in the Essequibo islands have been performing well at the CSEC assessment, but there is always room for improvement. The goal is not only about ensuring that these schools continue to constantly improve, demonstrating a high level of output, but to ensure that the other schools such as Parika, Patentia and L’ Adventure raise their standards, through adopting approaches that not only focus on creating conducive learning environments, but also on supporting families in meeting the monetary and non-monetary challenges of sending their children to school. As a start, the region benefits from the school uniform and school feeding programmes, which are set to be enhanced. There is also a focus on ensuring all teachers in the schools are fully trained.

Teacher training

 As it relates to teacher training, the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) has a satellite training centre in Region Three and this has facilitated on-going training. The region’s teachers also benefit from workshops and seminars, whilst some attend the University of Guyana, on release from the region.

The goal in the next three to five years is that almost all of the teachers in the region must be trained, but to do so, the Ministry and region must first address the challenges in the deep riverain areas, where finding suitable qualified individuals and facilitating their ready access to training are still challenges.

In order to improve its economic status and support the ability of its citizens to obtain gainful employment, opportunities to access education is imperative in any region or community.  Central Government and the Region Three administration recognise this, and are putting in place the resources to ensure a high quality of education in the region.

An ICT lab in a Region Three Secondary School