Education sector to be boosted as CPCE certifies 418
[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vINNNvTnP8″ width=”100%” height=”315″]
– CPCE gradates its 84th batch
– first group of teachers with associate degrees in IT
DPI, Guyana, Thursday, December 20, 2018
The education sector has been further boosted with the inclusion of 418 trained teachers following the graduation of the 84th batch of students from the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE).
Of this total, 13 students secured Distinction and 403 students graduated with Credit, and two students attained Pass. Additionally, this year, for the first time five students graduated with an associate degree in Information Technology (IT).
Of the 418 trained professionals graduating CPCE this year, 76 will be deployed to early childhood training institutions, 115 to primary level institutions, 273 will be attached the secondary schools and four at the post-secondary level expanding throughout the 10 Administrative Regions of Guyana.
The annual graduation exercise was held today at the National Cultural Centre (NCC), Georgetown. In his feature address, Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo noted his pride to have witnessed the awarding of associate to teachers in IT for the first time.
“We are now producing trained teachers who are graduating with associate degrees and I’m so proud of all of you… Perhaps in two years’ time, we will be graduating our educators with full degrees. Your college is indeed capable and ready and competent to do full degree courses and allow the University of Guyana and other universities to focus on the postgraduate degrees.”
Prime Minister Nagamootoo explained that the idea is to have a core of competent teachers coming out of the CPCE, who will be more marketable once they would have attained their degrees at the college.
To the students, the Prime Minister said:
“You are graduating at a very exciting time in your life when Guyana is transitioning into a more developed society… The opportunities for you will be greater, therefore, you have to continue to develop yourselves.”
In her charge to the students, Director of National Centre for Education Resource Development (NCERD), Jennifer Cumberbatch said that it is heartwarming to witness the strengthening of the pillar of education and to welcome the new cohort of teachers into the education system.
“The Government of Guyana is committed to developing the educational landscape of Guyana and the CPCE is a fundamental part of that change. With increased investments and improvements to the infrastructure, curriculum and courses, the priority is to provide modern facilities with new equipment, enhanced training and reviewed courses so as to cater for our 21st century needs.”
Cumberbatch cited some of the improvements over the past few years including means to nonresidents students, the implementation of CPCE’s student development centres and the international funding for science improvement to name a few. The Associate Degree in Information Technology is another significant achievement for the college as it seeks to lead the charge in meeting the demands of the technological age and ensuring that the Guyanese youths are not left behind.
Minister of Public Affairs, Dawn-Hastings Williams was also present at the event and presented the overall Best Graduating Student, Annamarie Isserdeen Samaroo with a plaque.
Synieka Thorne.
Image: Jameel Mohamed.