The Ministry of Education’s National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) has received a satellite dish from Mexico which will be utilized for the Education through Satellite Delivered Television Programmes (EDUSAT).

EDUSAT is aimed at improving education delivery in Guyana using state-of-the-art equipment and different technologies, the Government Information Agency reported.

Schools and other educational institutions, including those pursuing teacher training, will benefit from the programmes. According to GINA, the equipment will enable the delivery of a wide range of content, including programmes for the secondary curriculum delivered in a distance mode; programmes aimed at technical training, cultural heritage, art, cinema and short films.

In addition there will be programmes targeting higher education such as post-graduate courses, continuing education and teacher training.

The Head of Department, Curriculum Development and Implementation Unit, Bibi Ali said the programme will also be useful for rural communities where quality education is not easily accessible.

EDUSAT has given a commitment to make available one channel in Mexico for countries to provide content for broadcasting. When this content is received it will be adapted to suit Guyana’s educational context and the programmes will be transferred to compact discs to be distributed to television stations for use in schools. The satellite dish was sent directly from Mexico and the Ministry of Education received US$6,000 to purchase the additional equipment.

This programme has successfully been executed in Mexico since 1960 but Guyana only started the programme in 2005 with funding from the Organisation of American States (OAS), GINA added.