Exercise the words ‘wait and will power’ to ensure your children succeed in their educational pursuits
– MoE official tells Aishalton parents
(April 10, 2019) – “Children and teachers need your involvement and support in their pursuit of a better life through education and we are encouraging all parents to get involved”, this was the admonition of Schools Welfare Officer, Mr. Vickram Mohabir and Ms Nadia Hollingsworth Coordinator of the Parent Teachers Association Unit of the Ministry of Education as parents, community leaders and educators gathered at the Aishalton Community Centre yesterday during a Town hall meeting.
Yesterday’s event marked the second hosting of such an activity for 2019 as the Ministry of Education once again commenced hosting a series of meetings with parents of learners from the nursery, primary and secondary schools, throughout the 11 education districts of Guyana.
Mr. Vickram Mohabir in his interaction with those gathered encouraged them to inculcate the words, wait and will power to ensure that their children succeed in their education pursuits.
He said, “Word power encouragement is important and we need to start telling our children positive things about themselves to motivate them”.
Further, Mr. Mohabir encouraged the parents saying, “Parents we need to exercise and encourage wait power knowing that every child has the right to finish school”.
Recalling the fact that secondary school has a legal age limit for children he said that children must be allowed to access education up to at least sixteen years old to acquire a sound secondary education according to the Ministry’s standards.
Further, he encouraged that while some parents may have difficulties at home, “our children should not be sent into the backdam to work when they should be in school because they will have better opportunities if they get an education as opposed to them being allowed to leave school early.”
Mr Mohabir said that there is also the need for us to help encourage ‘will power’ because where there is a will there is always a way. He said, “We got to have that will power and desire to see our children succeed and do better than we have.”
Parents were reminded that following the two grade six mock exams their children have to complete the official examination on April 17-18, 2019.
“We are happy that you have come and spoken to us, we are more encouraged to get involved. As a teacher it is sad that students are not doing so well because parents are not getting involved. I encourage you (parents) to take the message to other parents who have not come to this meeting,” said Ms. Karen Andre, a teacher at Aishalton Primary School.
“I was elected as chairperson of the PTA here about two weeks ago and what I have recognised after being away for twenty years is that we (Parents) need some more training but we are happy that you have come to encourage us”, said Mr Ray Atkinson.
The Townhall meetings began on April 4 and will conclude on June 13, 2019.
The objectives of the Town Hall Meetings are to encourage parents to embrace collaboration between home and school, empower parents through health and family life education and to make parents aware of social issues that can affect the academic achievement of their children; and the necessary programmes available for assistance and guidance.
In total, 13 meetings are scheduled. In the deep south Rupununi, Region 9, the village of Aishalton is home to more than one thousand residents and is located about 100km from the township of Lethem. It has schools at the secondary, primary and nursery levels.
Those in attendance included Leyon Jones Head Techer of Aishalton Secondary School, Ms. Jean Nah-na-Fook Head Teacher of Aishalton Primary School and Ms. Joan Peters Head Teacher of Aishalton Nursery School.