Hinterland youths encouraged to utilise skills training productively
— Education is on the rise, let us not neglect that opportunity” – Min. Allicock
— 19 graduate from Bina Hill Institute Youth Learning Centre
— youths urged to make full use of govt’s scholarship programme
— institute received ten new laptops recently
DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, July 17, 2019
The hinterland region is soon to benefit from the skill of the most recent batch of graduates from the Bina Hill Institute Youth Learning Centre.
The institute’s 10th graduation ceremony saw 19 youths graduating after completing the two-year residential programme. The youths pursued training in the various field that will benefit their respective communities; tourism, agriculture, natural resources management and other technical areas.
In brief remarks, Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Hon. Sydney Allicock emphasised the importance of quality education to move the development of the hinterland communities forward in keeping with the government’s ‘Green State’ agenda.
“With a solid education, there is a promise for a good life. The president has asked that everyone takes this seriously. Education is on the rise, let us not neglect that opportunity.”
Minister Allicock said it is the government’s vision that the institution becomes a fully self-sufficient environment where students can earn as they learn.
“We have so many things that we can do here. What I want to hear is that we sold 10,000 pounds of chicken and it cost so much, so much was expended, and these are the savings. This is what was earned from the sale of our ground provision, from our tourism project and handicraft… because you are also studying business…”
The minister challenged the Board of Trustees of the institution to shift its focus to ensuring the institution becomes fully self-reliant. Students leaving the institution must be equipped with all the tools necessary, including funds, to become successful, he noted.
Valedictorian Cleunicia Ignascio, who is from the small remote village of Yurong Paru, said that the journey was both challenging and fulfilling. She charged the newly inducted students to take up the full responsibility of being role models and work to keep the standards of the institution aloft.
Of the graduates, two will be returning to their communities in Region 8, skilled in tourism, forestry and agriculture.
Region 8’s Regional Chairman, Bonaventure Fredericks, who travelled to Annai to support the students, said these skills are vital to the region. He recalled that last year, 18 students from his area graduated from the programme, two of whom are currently attending the University of Guyana (UG).
The graduates were charged to make full use of the government’s scholarship programme to further their tertiary studies at the University of Guyana, the Guyana School of Agriculture and the Government Technical Institute.
Additionally, Member of Parliament, Hon. Mervyn Williams, who also serves on the Board of Directors of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), said that the GFC has available five scholarships for students to pursue a certificate course in forestry at the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA). Once successful, the commission usually employs those students and provides inhouse training for them. Eventually, these students would be seconded to a forestry station within their district.
The institute also received ten new laptops. The computers will benefit 34 students who recently participated in an Information and Communication Technology workshop organised by First Lady, Her Excellency, Sandra Granger.
The graduation ceremony saw attendance from Guyana’s High Commissioner to India, H.E David Pollard, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Country Manager, Aiesha Williams and representatives from the Board of Industrial Training (BIT).
Established in 2001, the Bina Hill Institute Youth Learning Centre is the lone technical institute in Region 9. It focuses on training hinterland youth in Natural Resource Management, Forestry, Wildlife Management, Agriculture, Tourism, Business Studies, Life Skills, Traditional Skills, Basic Computer Skills, Mathematics, English and leadership training.