2017 NGSA commences today

Pupils across the country will from today commence the 2017 sitting of the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA). The scheduled assessment will be conducted today [Wednesday April 12] and tomorrow [Thursday April 13].

The assessment is designed to determine where pupils are likely to undertake their secondary education.

A look back at the education sector in 2016

Government sees education as necessary for the attainment of the “good life,” that it wants for all Guyanese. Government’s primary challenge however, remains the crafting of a system that produces the kind of education necessary to achieve this goal.

During the debates of the 2016 budget in January, Education Minister Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine had said that, “The stark reality is that our education system, under the previous administration, failed to grapple with that concern, with focus instead being placed on achievers of certificates at the expense of the education of the citizens.”

Cabinet extends deadline for education COI report

The deadline for the report on the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the state of the education system has been extended by a month.

During an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA), Technical Advisor, Tertiary Education to the Minister of Education, Vincent Alexander had stated that the report of the COI will be completed by the end of the month.

Career guidance crucial in school system – Caesar

– Welfare Officers must take up slack

Proper advice for students, particularly as it relates to their subject options, should not be optional. In fact, it is imperative that the public education system has in place a cadre of personnel capable of offering this crucial advice.
This proposal is one that has been made by the Commission of Inquiry [COI] into the education system.
According to Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Ed Caesar, “Our members are suggesting that if there can’t be a welfare person in a school, there must be a Welfare Officer responsible for a cluster of no more than five schools in every region.”

CXC Launching CAPE Green Engineering Syllabus

The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) will launch its latest New Generation Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) subject, Green Engineering, on Thursday 28 July in Guyana. The launch ceremony will take place at 10:00 am at the Theatre Guild in Georgetown.

Discipline in school must be dealt with humanely-Minister Roopnaraine tells Kato residents

Matters of discipline in school must be dealt with in a compassionate manner, Minister of Education Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine re-stated, whilst addressing residents of Kato, Region Eight at a village meeting.

On Saturday, Toshaos and residents of Region Eight met with a government delegation on the way forward with respect to the defective Kato Secondary School. The delegation comprised Minister Roopnaraine and the Ministers of Public Infrastructure, Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs and Social Cohesion. The team also addressed some of the issues confronting the village’s development.

Education COI calls for review of IRI programme

The Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the education sector’s preliminary report has noted that it is “very important” that the Ministry of Education re-evaluate the Interactive Radio Instruction (IRI) programme.

Chairman of the COI, Ed Caesar recently presented the report to the Minister of Education Dr Rupert Roopnaraine at the Ministry’s Brickdam office.

Education COI extended to March month end

The Commission of Inquiry which is being conducted into the public education system, was supposed to have been completed by December last, and submitted to the Education Minister, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine. The Minister told

this newspaper on Wednesday that the commission, which was supposed to have been completed four months after it commenced in April last year, would need some more time.

Education COI reveals…Ghost teachers lurking in the system – COI Chairman

Sometime ago calls were made for the Ministry of Human Services, now the Social Protection Ministry, to launch an investigation into allegations of an Old Age pension list fraught with ghost pensioners. However, a similar state of affairs has now been uncovered within the Ministry of Education.

Revelations in this regard were exposed by Mr. Ed Caesar, Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry [COI], appointed by Government to investigate the education system. The COI was recommended by Senior Minister of Education, Rupert Roopnaraine.

Education Commission of Inquiry…Recommendations already being implemented – Chairman

…final report to be completed shortly

“Right now as I sit here I am working on it,” said Mr. Ed Caesar of the final report of the Commission of Inquiry [COI] into public education system. Caesar, the Chairman of the COI, handed over a preliminary report into the
inquiry last month to Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, with a promise that the final report will be completed within two to three weeks.
But according to Caesar yesterday, the Commission, as at yesterday, was still working on the final report. “It will be completed shortly.”

Education Minister keen to hear views on VAT on private tuition

Minister of Education Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine says that the government is open to suggestions on alternatives to the 14 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) on private tuition.

The Education Minister will be part of a government team which will meet with parents and operators of private schools tomorrow on the issue. The meeting is scheduled for 11:00 hours at the National Cultural Centre.

Education Minister keen to hear views on VAT on private tuition

Minister of Education Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine says that the government is open to suggestions on alternatives to the 14 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) on private tuition.

The Education Minister will be part of a government team which will meet with parents and operators of private schools tomorrow on the issue. The meeting is scheduled for 11:00 hours at the National Cultural Centre.

Education Minister promises innovations, notable improvements in 2017

Come next year, Education Minister, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine said that there will be a continued commitment to improving the administration of the education sector in more efficient ways.

He said that there will be focus on the oversight of the 11 education districts as well as setting benchmarks for the dozens of private schools countrywide.
Dr. Roopnaraine said that some of the key objectives of the upcoming year will be to improve teacher training in keeping with priority areas for education; increase instructional time for students; improve upon monitoring and evaluation; better supervision of capital projects; and enhancing the internal efficiency of the ministry.

Education Minister pushing to have sports, music education back in school

Minister of Education Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine continues to reiterate his stand on the need for schools to be involved in music and sports education.

The Education Minister on Monday spoke with students of Mon Repos Primary School on the East Coast Demerara about his plans to make sports, as well as music, an important part of the school’s curriculum.

Education Minister visits Mon Repos Primary – assesses physical, environmental conditions

Minister of Education Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine today, visited the Mon Repos Primary School, on the East Coast of Demerara, to assess the state of the school’s facilities and environment. The minister was accompanied by the Chief Education Officer (CEO) Marcel Hutson and regional officials including the Region Four Regional Chairman (RC), Genevieve Allen.

Education Ministry begins Nursery enrolment for 2017

The Education Ministry is advising parents that the Nursery Department is preparing for the enrolment of children into Nursery School and Nursery to Primary School.

Education Ministry laying base for inclusion of innovation into national development

The Management Information Systems (MIS) Unit of the Ministry of Education, during 2017, will be tasked with implementing or upgrading Information Technology (IT) laboratories in 80 primary schools. It will as well, provide internet access or classroom interactivity resources to 100 more scbhools.

Education Ministry’s $21.218B to fund key strategic interventions – estimates approved

A sum of $21.218 Billion has been approved for the Ministry of Education, to fund the provision of key planned interventions in the upcoming year. These 2017 interventions are intended to lay the foundation for the arduous task ahead of the Ministry of rebuilding a solid education system.

Education Ministry’s national awards ceremony…Extra-curricular activities must complement academics

“I can tell you from my own limited personal experience that there is no disconnect between the playing field and the classroom; the playing field can reinforce the classroom.”

This assertion was made yesterday by Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, when he addressed the Ministry of Education’s 20th National Award ceremony at the National Cultural Centre.
The Minister spoke of the need to recognise not only the importance of sports but also music in the school system. He said, “We must restore music in the schools, have choirs in the schools so that children are singing and playing sports in addition to their academic work.”

Education should not stop at the school gates—- says Education Minister

…touts introduction of education-focused community groups

There is an urgent need to revitalised Parent-Teacher Associations [PTA]. This is the view of Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, who has asserted that “this [revitalised PTAs] for me is key.”