Minister Manickchand, highlighted the importance of early childhood education, noting that the early childhood years are recognised by psychologists, teachers and policy makers as being very important years in children’s lives

She said the Government makes no bones about prioritising education, noting that the education sector budget has moved from 5 percent to 15 percent of the national budget, and this is spent across the sector.

 She explained that the administration has undertaken a programme which has a vision to ensure that all students are able to read and understand what they are reading by Grade Four. This project is expected to see results by 2020.

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand addressing the gathering at the opening of the No.77 Village Nursery school

Highest enrolment in Commonwealth Caribbean

The Minister pointed out that 85% of nursery school aged children in Guyana are enrolled in schools. This, she noted is the highest enrolment figure in the entire Commonwealth Caribbean, and was only possible because the administration has created the facilities that are needed.

She also highlighted that the Number 77 Nursery School is the 57^th such school in Region Six.

The Education Minister urged that parents give their children the jump start and do so early, so that they can do better than their parents.

She said building schools is one thing, but having the trained teachers to teach the children is another, even as she highlighted that government has also invested heavily in the training of teachers. She said that 80% of the nursery school teachers in Berbice are trained.

Students of the school along with Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand cut the ribbon to officially commission the school

She related that many were applying to the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE), but didn’t qualify in one of the core subjects, but today, the situation is different, as consciously, the PPPC Administration has been providing for teacher training. She cited Region Six as an example which has about 12 nursery age children to a teacher.

“We have now brought the number down so much …so a teacher can spend time with the children, so when you know a child is really good you can give them extra work and when the child is slow you can bring them up and that is what having smaller classrooms do…it didn’t happen simply because we desired it or we wanted it to happen. It happened because we had a vision that we want to see smaller classrooms, with trained teachers, with children who were graduating with skill, and we pursued that vision, we funded that vision that your children are benefitting from.”

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand with students of the newly commissioned school

Explaining how the Ministry was able to attract more teachers, Minister Manickchand said that education system is doing well and more children are passing Maths and English and can go on and become teachers. In 1992 just 8 of students passed English, and 18 percent passed Maths, whereas in 2014, 46 percent passed English and 36 percent passed Maths, which is similar, to what obtains in the Caribbean.

Also to allow a greater intake of students, children were entered into the formal education system in September at three years three months; six months earlier than previously obtained. This however, was done after an assessment and the children were taught basic things at home before starting school, Minister Manickchand explained. She said such a policy will not be reversed unless the parents call for its turnaround.

Children enjoying the play facilities in the Number 77 Village Nursery school compound

Further, with the administration being keen to support groups and parents, it has ensured that programmes are put in place to do so, hence the projects covering fortified snacks, hot meals, uniform assistance, free exercise and text books along with the new cash grant programme launched in 2014. 

The contract for the construction of the Number 77 Nursery School was signed in April 2014 and was completed approximately seven months later.

The school was welcomed by the staff of the facility, especially the head teacher, and the residents.

Meanwhile, BNTF representative, Michael Singh said the school is equipped with sick bay, kitchen, administrative department and washroom facilities among other departments, and has the capacity to house 120 students or 20 per classroom.

Inside the new nursery school

BNTF is a Government of Guyana programme and is responsible for implementing projects and providing infrastructure for capacity building through funding from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

The project undertaken falls into the 7^th and 8^th BNTF cycle which deals with education and human development. Under this aspect US$2.7M was expended on the construction of the Diamond, Ithaca, Tuschen, and the latest No.77 village nursery schools among others along with the refurbishing of others.

The 8^th cycle which is currently ongoing will see the injection of US$804M into the education sector.

Meanwhile Region Six Chairman  Mr. Permaul Armogan lauded the education sector and the importance that government has given to nursery education, which is the backbone to more intellectual development.

He recognised that the government is not only pushing nursery, but all forms of education, with a special focus on technical and vocational areas.