Manickchand Reflects on Fourth Year as Minister of Education

Fourth Year as Minister of Education

Minister Priya Manickchand

Minister Priya Manickchand took up office as Minister of Education under this administration in 2020, amid the uncertainty of the Covid-19 lockdown period, when schools were closed and education delivery was at a stand still.

During that time, the Ministry provided a range of resources to assist the learners gearing up for the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA). The Guyana Learning Channel (GLC) produced videos for every topic area which the students were able to access via television and YouTube. The GLC also conceptualised and broadcast new programmes like Whiz Kids to reignite the students’ interest in learning while also supporting learners who were preparing for the NGSA under those very different circumstances. The Ministry, under the stewardship of Min. Manickchand, also compiled past papers and created worksheets which are still available at https://education.gov.gy/en/. Additionally, the Ministry provided textbooks for every child from Nursery to Secondary. Moreover, in an effort to give the children, whose learning was hampered by the pandemic, a fair chance at the upcoming primary exit exam (NGSA), the Consolidated Curriculum was implemented. On revising the initial curriculum, Minister Manickchand explained that irrelevant or obsolete areas of study were removed, and the learners were evaluated up to the Grade Five level instead of Grade Six. This was to compensate for the two-year learning loss. As a matter of fact, “we were the first country in the Caribbean that went back to school for exam level children in fourth and fifth form,” Min. Mackchand reminisced.

Investment in Distance Learning

Having learnt from the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Manickchand-led Ministry of Education has continued to invest in Distance Education. At present, every hinterland community has been given satellite, solar power and television sets so that children in those communities can benefit from the lessons broadcast by the GLC. Additionally, EdYou FM, the Ministry’s radio station, continues to serve learners in even the most remote communities in Guyana. Further, approximately 30,000 Guyanese have been able to upskill themselves through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL). GOAL is a medium through which the Government of Guyana pays tuition for foreign universities offering qualifications from Bachelor’s Degree to PhD.

Investments in Infrastructure

For the past year, the Ministry has made significant strides in addressing some of the barriers to receiving an education. As she reflected on her Ministry’s work during her fourth year in office, Min. Manickchand noted the significant investments in infrastructure. At present, secondary schools are being constructed and rehabilitated all across the country, particularly in regions 1,6,7, 8, and 9. Teachers quarters are also being constructed in those regions, along with dormitories in order to accommodate learners from neighbouring and satellite communities.

Investment in Teacher Training

In addition to infrastructure, the Ministry has invested heavily in training and capacity building of teachers, which has resulted in an increase in the number of trained teachers in schools. TheEducation Minister explained that prior to 2020, the highest number of graduates from CPCE was 535. In contrast, at the last convocation, more than 1700 trained teachers graduated. This increase in the number of graduates is in large part due to the CPCE training programme now being available online, so that prospective teachers residing in far-flung communities are now able to pursue their studies.

School feeding programme- extended

Added to the list of accomplishments for this year, was the expansion of the Ministry’s school feeding programme. After the introduction of breakfasts in the schools, Minister Manickand reported that there has been an improvement in students’ attendance, enrolment, and focus. She explained that all children from Nursery to Grade 2 get either a meal or biscuits which are a nutritious snack fortified with vitamins and minerals, and fruit juicefor breakfast. Learners in Grades 5 & 6 are receiving breakfast, and all high schoolers in the hinterland are receiving meals as well.

Financial Assistance for Parents

In an effort to improve attendance, and promote better attentiveness at school, the Education Ministry has been providing financial support to families through the Because We Care cash grant which was increased to $40,000, coupled with the $5,000 uniform allowance.

Focus on Mental and Social Well-being

In this fourth year in office, the Ministry has also been focusing on the mental and social-well being of learners. During her reflection, Min. Manickchand cited her ministry’s post-Covid investment in Guidance and Counselling Officers to address anti-socialbehaviours in schools. She was pleased to announce that Guidance and Counselling officers have been placed at 85 of 116 schools.

Heightened focus on Literacy and Math in the Future

Moving forward, the Ministry will be intensifying its interventions to improve Literacy rates and Mathematics skills across the country. Min. Manickchand has stated that the Ministry of Education will provide more learning materials. She expressed her vision that every primary school will have a library, and that all children in Grades 11 and 12 will be able to benefit from educational resources and other reinforcements in Mathematics.