Youth development will continue to be a priority for PPP/C administration - President Ramotar

Written by Gina Webmasters, Published in News, Georgetown, GINA, March 1, 2015, Source - GINA

The People's Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) believes in the old adage that youths are the future, and in this light it has taken their development seriously as numerous interventions have been, and continue to be made.

President Donald Ramotar during an interview with youths today on the Programme ‘At Home with the President', aired on the National Communications Network, spoke of his administration’s plan for youths, and how it will go about achieving it.

According to President Ramotar, his administration strongly believes that by educating youths and the population at large it is the one sure way of developing a country at large.

“We have to build and educate them (youths) to face the challenges of the modern world today.”

Making reference to developed nations, the President said it is evident that countries with a highly educated population are better off than those with a less educated population.

He added that it is for this reason also the administration has been investing significantly in the  education sector at every level.

Already, he pointed out, that the investments are paying off as Guyana has achieved Universal Primary education and is close to achieving Universal Secondary education.

He however, noted that it was his hope that Universal Secondary education would have been achieved under his first term in office.

Nonetheless, the President said investments are being made, and will continue to be made at every level of the education sector including tertiary, and a new budding field, technical education.

Pointing to the importance of education, the President noted that it allows for a more skilled and educated work force while giving youths an opportunity to enhance their marketability.

The President also spoke of what Guyana’s further holds for a more skilled and educated work force as the Administration will soon see the realisation of the Amaila Falls Hydro Power project.

This project, he said, will create technical and high paying jobs for persons with the necessary skills.

It was also noted that Guyana is on the verge of becoming an oil and gas producing country which will also require specialised skills. It is for this reason emphasis is being placed on technical education, and skill training with numerous technical facilities being opened around the country. The most recently opened technical institutions are the Mahaicony Technical Institute, Region Five and a similar one at Leonora, Region Three.

Meanwhile with these and other investments, the President said it is expected that the issue of brain drain will be addressed.

Noting that this has been a problem the country has been grappling with over the years, the President said that by educating people, they are creating conditions to anchor the population.

All children in Guyana are entitled to free education from nursery to secondary level. Government Technical Institutes offer free training as well. For those who wish to pursue an education at the University of Guyana, and cannot afford to, they can do so through loans offered by the Finance Ministry and repay after.