Work with us to develop Guyana – Minister Manickchand urges MPs
- during 2012National budget debate
Georgetown, GINA, April 16, 2012
Minister of Education Priya Manickchand delivering her presentation during the 2012 Budget debate
Education Minister Priya Manickchand this evening issued a call for Members of Parliament (MPs) to cooperate with the Government of the day, to move the education sector forward, stating that the Administration cannot do it alone.
Minister Manickchand made this call during her 2012 Budget debate presentation as she defended the $26.5M proposed for the education sector. She reminded the National Assembly of the many occasions on which, a hand was offered to the Opposition to work together, but was slapped away.
She chided the Opposition for degrading several projects, when indeed they are the ones guilty of non-cooperation on many of the said projects they disparage.
“Coming here and saying that there is nothing in this budget for anyone, no improvement under this government is as unreasonable as we said we have done it all and there is nothing else left to do,” she said.
According to Minister Manickchand, A Partnership for National Unity’s Member of Parliament Jennifer Wade was offered an opportunity to speak at the launch of the Legal Aid service in Berbice, but never showed up to the event, despite giving her assurance that she would have participated in the occasion.
“We were waiting for the Honourable Member, she never showed up…but, during the programme colleagues of the Honourable Member came with placards outside of the event launch. How is that for working together?” Minister Manickchand queried.
Similar action was portrayed by APNU, MP, Amna Ally, when she was offered to give her input on the corporal punishment panel discussion, and failed to show up.
The Education Minister in rebutting Ms. Ally’s budget debate presentation questioned the Opposition’s credibility, noting that working together should be more than just a fancy headline.
“People in Guyana should judge us based on what we do and not what we say. I am wondering Mr. Speaker, whether it is inclusive governance the Opposition wants or is it Government they want. Inclusive governance sir, we are prepared to work towards. Government on the other hand, they will have to speak to the people of Guyana who have told them no,” she said.
Focusing on the education system, Minister Manickchand said for the sector and children to benefit, there must be a combined effort, as a marked feature of the education system is equity, since what is portrayed at present, shapes what the future will look like.
A pledge was made on the part of the Government to have the country attain Universal Secondary Education over the next five years.
Responding to an allegation that the student dorms are plagued with serious problems, the Minister stated that while no place is perfect, committed to addressing the concerns which exist.
In addition to the many schools constructed under the PPP/C Administration, the education sector can boast of having 22 dormitories at present, where more than 2,000 students are accommodated in order to access secondary education.
“Mr. Speaker. I challenge Ms. Ally to provide the evidence to back up her claims that there is one teacher to tend to 100 children, as there is currently no shortage of teachers in Region Two, as a result of investment in the sector,” she said.
At present, the ratio is one teacher to 35-students in the secondary school, while the remediation programme boasts one teacher to 25 students.
Government in recognition that teachers are the backbone of the system continues to invest heavily in the sector to maintain its stability.
“So when Ms. Ally said that the history of this country did not start in 1992, Mr. Speaker, she is right - and we are suffering because of the history that started before, under the PNC/R Government.”
The Minister urged solidarity with the teachers and to denounce violence against them.
With respect to teacher training, the Minister stated that this Government, has attained 70 percent trained teachers, with 10 training centers established countrywide.
Because of this move, there are currently 63 percent teachers in the nursery system, and 67 percent in primary system trained, with the hinterland moving from 38 percent to 43 percent.
“We have seen sir, the secondary sector moving from 59 percent of trained teachers in 2007-2008; to 63 percent in 2009-2010.”
She noted that, “With respect to Ms. Ally’s statement that Government is hiring cronies, I am very pleased that I can rely on these same people to take the sector forward,” Minister Manickchand said.
