Vincent Alexander appointed special adviser to Education Minister

By GuyanaTimes

Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine has appointed former Registrar of the University of Guyana (UG) Vincent Alexander as his special adviser on all education matters. Dr Roopnaraine, speaking to Guyana Times on Thursday evening, related that Alexander’s appointment was made upon his ascension to the office in an effort to focus on policy matters and measures which can improve the delivery of education and ultimately the education sector. “He is the Minister’s special adviser on everything in the education sector – culture, sports, arts, University of Guyana – everything. He is the Minister’s adviser on everything that is on the Minister’s portfolio,” Roopnaraine said.

He noted that Alexander’s role would now be to provide advice on steps which should be taken, but stressed that he was only part of the entire advisory team. “What I am doing is that I am finding people in the Ministry and I’m trying to connect them to some of my own appointees so that we can create a very large, I hope not too large, manageable advisory team to which I can have reports as they provide. I intend to chair that group,” the Education Minister disclosed. Alexander will also be looking at the University of Guyana’s ongoing crises and report to the Minister so that a way forward can be plotted. Alexander was appointed Registrar of UG in 2009. He had joined the academic staff of the University of Guyana in 1988 as a Research Fellow/Lecturer in the Institute of Development Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences. He then served as Dean of the faculty from 1993 to 1994. In 1994, Alexander was appointed the first Deputy Registrar of UG.

Wealth of experience Alexander’s appointment has been hailed by many, who noted that he brought to the post a wealth of experience and knowledge especially on the operations of the University of Guyana, having worked at both the junior and senior administrative level and also at the academic level of the institution. He is the recipient of numerous awards, among them the Twenty-Year Long Service Award in 2008 and the 40th Anniversary Award for Meritorious Service to the University of Guyana in 2003. Alexander’s ability and application in the field of education has been recognised and lauded both locally and abroad.

Audits Meanwhile, Dr Roopnaraine said the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) and the audits which he has instructed to commence at all schools across the country are intended to strengthen the system so that every child in Guyana can excel, irrespective of the school they attend. “What I want the CoI to do is to hold hearings through the country. I want to hear from teachers, students, parents across the country on what they believe the Ministry ought to be doing. Are their schools working? Are they happy with the results they are getting? Do the children have enough facilities in the school? All these things I need to hear…,” he disclosed. He noted that while the members of the Commission have not yet been identified, the CoI would be required to wrap up work by the end of June and compile a report for his examination. “Based on the CoI report, combined with its report on the University of Guyana I will be in a position to make policies for the Ministry,” the Minister said.