Education Ministry engages representatives of religious bodies on supporting disadvantaged students

The Ministry of Education met virtually with over 200 leaders and representatives of the religious bodies in Guyana yesterday to explore possible collaborations on the way forward to reach and support those students that have not returned to school.

Last Saturday, the Honourable Minister of Education Priya Manickchand had said that the Ministry will be engaging religious bodies this week to establish a partnership to reach and support those students that have not returned to school nor are being engaged academically.

According to Minister Manickchand, there are several reasons why some students have not returned to school and are not being engaged at home.

Minister Manickchand explained that the Education Ministry through its schools are present in almost every community in Guyana whether it is at the nursery, primary or secondary or post secondary level.

She also noted that the other institutions who are present in almost every community are churches, temples, masjid and Toshaos and believe to add another layer of organised interest, monitoring, supervision and reporting would enure to the benefit of the students.

She asked of the religious leaders to take account of all the children in their congregations and identify the students who are in school, not in school or are not being engaged while at home. She also asked them to do the same for the community in which they exist physically.

Minister Manickchand said that this initiative is not a truancy campaign. She said that the intention is to support students to ensure they either return to school or can be engaged while at home.

During the engagement, a line of communication was established whereby a phone number was shared so that senior Officers at Central Ministry can be contacted and made aware of any issue preventing a child or children from returning to school or be engaged at home so that immediate action can be taken.

Chief Education Officer, Dr. Marcel Hutson stressed the importance of the religious bodies networking with each other and with the Ministry using their organisations to address the challenges that exist.

Deputy Chief Education Officer (Amerindian and Hinterland Education Development), Mr. Marti De Souza highlighted that at the end of the 2019-2020 academic year, 10, 216 students were expected to move from Grade 10 to Grade 11 and should be preparing to sit the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination next year.

He said that based on attendance records of classes, whether physically or virtually 1,424 students are not being engaged or returned to school. That number was higher but with effort has been reduced.

He said that while gathering this information many reasons were recorded as to why some students have not returned.

Some of the reasons that were recorded include 21 students becoming pregnant, 31 students gaining employment, 89 students not returning due to fear of the pandemic, 44 students because of financial difficulties and 48 students that have relocated.

Important to note, of that 1424, the Ministry was unable to reach 988 students. As such, such an initiative to partner with the religious bodies is important to address some of these issues.

Shaik Moeen ul-Hack of the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG) commended the Ministry for the initiative.

He said that after the Ministry made contact with the organization, the CIOG did a survey through the Masjids across the country regarding why some students did not return to school when it was reopened and found much of what the Ministry’s findings show.

He added that the CIOG will assist the Ministry in sensitizing the community about children returning to schools and all relevant matters.

Rev. Dr. Noel Holder of the Victoria and Ann's Grove Congregational Churches also commended the Ministry for engaging the religious bodies. He noted that based on his observation, behavioral change is one of the major challenges during this pandemic. He said that while parents are afraid to send their children to school, in some cases the said children are playing with friends in the community without masks.

According to him, getting persons to adapt to the new norm is of great importance moving forward.

Ms. Chandrowtie Sarran of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha expressed similar sentiments about the initiative and offered to provide the assistance necessary.

The Ministry of Education considers this initiative as an expansion of its monitoring mechanism whereby each Church, Temple or Masjid can examine the situation in their respective communities and have direct contact to Central Ministry so that the necessary intervention can be actioned.

The participants agreed to have additional meetings to continue to craft an effective approach to the issue which will see religious bodies working alongside government to reach and support the nation's children.

The Education Minister said now and even post COVID, this collaboration and partnership will be expanded and strengthened. the Ministry will host a similar meeting with the Toshaos of the country.