MOE records improved attendance in Georgetown schools

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DPI, Guyana, Friday, September 28, 2018

Several students at the Nursery, Primary and Secondary level from around Georgetown were earlier today honoured for improved attendance for the academic year 2017 to 2018.

A simple awards ceremony was hosted at the National Cultural Centre in recognition of the students and their schools. Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry noted that the increase in attendance for this academic year shows that much more emphasis has been placed on acquiring an education through regular and punctual school attendance.

Minister Henry encouraged those awarded, especially the schools with the best attendance rates to take the initiative and be advocates for good attendance at their respective schools. She also noted that absenteeism removes a child’s opportunity to acquire a quality education, especially in light of it being a constitutional right for every child in Guyana.

“It is the duty of the Ministry of Education, parents, welfare officers, social workers and schools’ administrators to ensure that we create an educational system to achieve this [desired attendance]. School attendance rates are very important and I am very happy to see that this year, there is another increase in attendance across the board nursery, primary and secondary schools,” she explained.

Senior Schools’ Welfare Officer, Onika Pearson

Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry [second from right] flanked by headteachers of schools receiving awards for highest attendance for the year 2017 to 2018

Additionally, the minister said that it is the duty of all involved, to create an environment conducive to learning, one that will make students want to attend school as they should. She reminded the attendees that in order to fulfil dreams and be successful adults, they must attend school.

“Children who are regularly absent from school will in most cases fall behind… We all know that attendance is imperative for our children to receive the best possible start in life and good school attendance is the determining factor for students’ educational success.”

Meanwhile, Senior Schools’ Welfare Officer, Onika Pearson said that this initiative is part of a continuous effort by the MOE to address absenteeism and encourage attendance.

“Good attendance at school is vital if children are to reach their full potential. In this regard, our schools’ welfare officers work closely with schools, children, parents and guardians and other agencies to address cases of absenteeism.” Pearson said, “This is done to ensure that all school, aged children are able to benefit fully from all the educational opportunities available to them.”

The schools awarded recorded an average 95 per cent and above in attendance.

A total of 2,925 students from the Nursery, Primary and Secondary levels have been awarded certificates for excellent attendance and punctuality as against 2,654 in the previous year. Of all schools assessed, Houston Nursery School recorded the highest attendance for that category, Graham’s Hall for the primary category and Bishops’ High School for the secondary level.

According to education officials, this year’s increase in awardees suggests that since last year, more teachers and parents have engaged each other and taken up the challenge to ensure that their children arrive at school daily and on time to maximise the benefits to be had from a sound education.

Delicia Haynes

Images: Jameel Mohammed