Education Minister meets E’bo residents

JULY 28, 2015 | BY KNEWS | FILED UNDER NEWS

On Sunday, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, the Minister of Education visited the Essequibo Coast, where he met and held discussions with residents on their setbacks in the community. The meeting with the Minister and residents of Dartmouth and Westbury, Essequibo Coast, was held at the Dartmouth Community center. Dr. Roopnaraine, when he delivered an address, told the residents that “Education” began with a Village movement. Roopnaraine reflected and shared a typical example while making reference to slaves who were able to pool their resources collectively and establish villages and/Communities. “The entire Region is dealing with a pre-crisis.” Dr. Roopnaraine stated that a lot of work is needed to be done especially in the Education system. This system would not be fixed overnight, he added. As Education Minister, Roopnaraine said, he is focused on ensuring that students from all levels receive a “full Education.” He stressed that the classroom should be an exhausting place where there should be no place for extra lessons. He told Essequibo residents that his Ministry would work to introduce programmes such as music and sports, into the school fraternity. He however cautioned that much in the Education system needs to be fixed. This would require a great deal of commitment and energy on the part of the Educators. It would require parents’ involvement in their children’s Education to bring about meaningful change. Roopnaraine said that focus would also be centered on intensifying information technology into the Education system. “Focus less on assessment and more on all round development of the child.” Residents of Dartmouth told the Minister that there is a high level of school dropouts, unemployment, joblessness, poor recreational facilities and poor sports facilities. The Minister however said, that he would not guarantee immediate relief. He told them that numerous foreign donor agencies have shown their willingness to aid in Guyana’s transformation and as such, would be lobbying for their needs. Minister Roopnaraine was accompanied by Dr. David Hinds, Dr. Da Silva and Charlene Wilkinson. (Yannason Duncan)