Region One REDO underscores the importance of education – urges parents to ensure children attend school
DPI, GUYANA, Thursday, May 03, 2018
Parents are made aware of the consequences of not sending their children to school with government’s implementation of a series of measures to address the issue of school dropouts. This includes the provision of school uniform vouchers and the school-feeding programme, home visits and truancy campaigns.
Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe.
Region One, Regional Education Officer (REO), Nigel Richards, called on parents and guardians to be more proactive in getting their children to attend school. This call was made during a recent outreach in Smith Creek, with the surrounding communities of Morawhanna and Imbotero, over the weekend.
Richards said the improvements in regional education infrastructure are evidence that the government is working to ensure all children in the region have access to an education.
“I am happy to tell you that your school is repaired. I know in January we had some discussions about it and out of that discussion, you have an almost brand-new school.”
Regional Education Officer (REO) of Region One, Nigel Richards.
Additionally, Richards highlighted that the Education Ministry is working to reintegrate school dropouts into the school system. “Whether they are teenage mothers, we are encouraging you to send them back to school.”
Richards reminded that education will play a vital role in developing their communities and the region as a whole. He noted that the region is in dire need of doctors, teachers, nurses and agricultural officers among other professionals. According to Richards, the region will only be able to acquire the much-needed human resource if the youths are well educated.
Parents were also called upon to play a more integral role in schools by joining their respective PTAs. They were also encouraged to get their PTA TIN number so that they can be assigned small contracts when minor repairs on schools in their community are needed.
Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe reminded of the opportunities available through the ministry. Among these are scholarships for hinterland students who excel at the primary and secondary level as well as the Hinterland and Employment Youth Service (HEYS) programme, which provides youths with an opportunity to improve their standard of living and contribute positively to the development of their communities.
Residents of Smith Creek, Morawhanna and Imbotero in the meeting.
By: Isaiah Braithwaite.