Regional Education Officers’ meeting – First quarter 2025

Regional Education Officers’ meeting – First quarter 2025

The Regional Education Officers’ Meeting for the first quarter of 2025 is currently being held in Region 10 from April 2–4, 2025, under the theme “Building a Sustainable Learning Ecosystem Across Education Districts in Guyana Together.” This meeting brings together the 10 Regional Education Officers (REdOs) along with the Principal Education Officer – Georgetown to engage in meaningful discussions and collaborative efforts aimed at strengthening the education system.

On the first day, the Regional Education Officers were divided into five teams and, along with Education Officers from Region 10, visited Nursery, Primary, and Secondary schools. These school visits served as an opportunity to share best practices, learn from each other, and focus on key areas such as the Guyana Nursery Curriculum, preparation for National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), School-Based Assessments (SBAs), and overall curriculum coverage. The findings from these visits will be compiled into reports that will contribute to improvements across the region.

The second and third days of the meeting are dedicated to a series of presentations and discussions led by key education officials.

On the second day, the Chief Education Officer, Mr. Saddam Hussain delivered a presentation on Accountability and Leadership, emphasizing their importance in driving improved performance across all levels of the education system. The Assistant Chief Education Officer – Nursery, Mr. Devendra Persaud, led an engaging discussion on the Guyana Nursery Renewed Curriculum, providing valuable insights into its implementation. This was followed by a presentation from Ms. Cladell Ally-Bristol, an Education Officer from the National Literacy Department, who focused on Literacy Across Levels. Her presentation highlighted the department’s ongoing work in literacy development, provided clarity on its objectives, and outlined the way forward. The day concluded with presentations from the Regional Education Officers, where they shared their perspectives, experiences, and strategies for enhancing education in their respective regions.

On the third day, presentations continued with valuable contributions from key education officials. Mr. Ameer Ali, the Deputy Chief Education Officer (Exams), addressed matters related to the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), offering insights into its current structure and any relevant updates. Mr. Sherwyn Blackman, the Assistant Chief Education Officer (Secondary), then presented on Marketing Secondary Education: Roadmap to students' success, where he outlined strategies for promoting and enhancing secondary education in the country.

The Regional Education Officers (REdOs) were also actively engaged in discussions, providing their perspectives and contributing to the conversations throughout the day. Alongside them, the team from the Schools Board Secretariat, including Ms. Volika Jaikishun and Ms. Tracy Crawford, participated in these discussions. Ms. Usha Banson from the Schools Board Secretariat was also in attendance, adding her input to the sessions.

In addition, the Vice Principal - Development from the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE), Ms. Tamsin Henry-Granville, shared insights on various matters related to the operation of CPCE centres across Guyana, discussing the challenges and opportunities within the institution and its impact on professional development.

As these sessions progress, the goal remains clear: to equip each Regional Education Officer and the Principal Education Officer with the knowledge, strategies, and motivation necessary to implement meaningful improvements in their respective education districts. The meeting serves as a platform for collaboration, capacity building, and the collective effort to strengthen Guyana’s education system. This meeting was organized by Ms. Tiffany Favourite-Harvey, Deputy Chief Education Officer (Administration), who ensured the smooth coordination of the event.