Dear Editor,
The images of a decaying and visibly neglected President’s College are not only worrying in the sense that educators and students are living and working in such an environment, but also because an obligation exits on the part of the relevant authorities to treat the college properly.
The legitimate concerns raised consistently by educators and students regarding accommodation and services have over the years been deemed unfounded and as exemplifying unruliness, yet what obtains today bears painful testimony to an institution that has been largely ignored.
And I question why? Why has this School of Excellence whose halls I had comfortably walked for seven years been treated so poorly, and to what end? The deterioration of one of the country’s premier secondary institutions can be of no benefit to this nation, given the obvious need for sustaining strong school curricula.
President’s College ought to be recognised for the invaluable contributions it has and continues to make to this nation, and duly respected for a legacy of shaping brilliant young minds against enormous odds. The hallmark of the institution is its commitment to academics and social education; rearing young minds while fostering early independence and instilling values of social responsibility.
The college is in dire need of serious attention, which means the current indifference cannot continue. The nation’s youth at President’s College are no less than those being educated anywhere else in the city, and by extension the country, and it is therefore unfortunate that such a perception is being entertained.
It is not simply a question of what has been budgeted for the institution, but also what has happened to it and why. The reality of decrepit classrooms, inadequate furniture, no equipment for practical school assignments, limited and at times no access to running water sit atop a list of obvious neglect.
The President’s College I remembered also suffered from neglect, but never this transparent. What is tragic is that the institution was allowed to depreciate since my departure a few years ago, and no one apparently cares.
It is therefore left to individuals like me, who would have benefited tremendously from the college to lead a chorus against those responsible, and to press continuously for change. As an old student of the college the continuing neglect knifes me in the stomach as well as provokes some anger.
I was not afforded the opportunity to be proactive in my days as a student of the college in pressing for change because, “things were simply not this bad!” I shudder to see firsthand how intolerable the environment has become.
I support the educators and students of the college at this critical time as they push for improved conditions. It is time that authorities address their concerns in totality and end the years of neglect.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)
PPP has no vested interest in educating the Guyanese population if they are successful in that venture it will mean their jig will soon come to a faster curtain.
Are you ratcheting up your political campaign?I heard dem byes selected office bearers already.
It is been neglected because it was built during the pnc govt which was led by forbes burnham, plain and simple.
Sad….but true……..
“And I question why? Why has this “School of Excellence” whose hall I walked for seven years been treated so poorly, and to what end?”
May be we all should ask the same question when we look back at the institutions whose hall we walked. May be we all should also add ‘whose rooms we slept in’.
‘And I question why?” Why is it that the name of the letter writter is with held? Is it because he/she is one of the big ones in the government?
Anyway whoever you are – have you ever entertain the idea of ‘giving back’ to the insrutution? May be you and all other excellent graduades can form a old student body and give back to the ‘institution’s halls so that others coming behind can continue to walk on them.’
From very young age I came to a realization that a government can only do so much and we the people should contribute our share.
Just the other day my wife and I were cleaning up – when she came upon PC logo that she (Mohani Persaud) won a monetary award for whilst still in her third year at the E.R. Burrowes School of Art and wondered if it (PC) is still in existance.
(Maybe this not important for you but for records – second prize winner was late Emmerson Samuels and myself – third prize winner)
Mr. Marco ! What exactly can the ‘old student body’ give back to the their institution that would return it to its ideal stage ? Oh ! An endowment of US $500,000 per year. But, wait, it is a public school with direct responsibility of the tax payers- gov’t. Maybe, just maybe, the tax payers should demand that some funds from QC budget must be diverted to PC. That will ‘teach’ them.
Guy, I have said it before but I will reiterate for your benefit.
The oldest students who attended President’s College are now on average 35 years old. An age where they are now finding their feet and coming into their own. Despite their youth, they have been organizing initiatives to benefit the school but have been stymied on many occasions by the discord between the school’s administration and the board.
The biggest problem facing The School of Excellence however, is the persistent and systematic neglect by the current government of Guyana that has brought the school to a point where may as well be a proverbial drop in the bucket. Regardless of this fact however, the alumni association continues to develop various initiatives to help in strategic areas.
Beyond all this however, let me state that your interest is misplaced. Why would it matter who the letter writer is? Would this information make the points expressed any less true or important?
It would be wise of you to keep in mind that this school is a public institution just like QC, Bishop’s, etc. Its students and indeed all students in Guyana deserve the adequate support of the government.
instead of giving themselves all the perks both in and out of office the government should look after the people and the institutions
Instead of withholding you name,why not print your name,then as you say the college is just about abandoned,go to the college and paint your name there.Then reopen it and be the headmaster /professor whatever.Begin with one student and one desk.Apparently nobody is interested in the college, you do,so you will be doing a good service to the nation.
It seems like Georgie who wrote the letter – notice the response ? LOL
Wrong Guy ! Hey, that’s funny– ‘wrong guy’.. Ha! I don’t write and wiil never write a letter to the editor. Anyways, you missed the focus of my thought. A public school is the direct responsibility of the local or national gov’t. Sure, alumni can construct a dormitory or science lab, but, will they hire and finance staff budgets fifty years now ?
If President Jagdeo were smart, he would have made sure that the school maintains its infrastructure and standard quality and, use it as a standard bearer when the opposition begin to point fingers. The graduates will thank and honor him.
SN/moderator/AXER ,, am not even bothered abt my comment i just posted ! whether it stays r tun fishfood ,,,,, truth be told ,, i juss couldn’t resist tekkin a dig at this statement in question ,, that is so obvious !…..
I konw that the ‘diaspora’ can help. I know of the case of the PMTs(Port Mourant Training School), which has a strong connection with its graduates and they do contribute to its development, regardless of ethnicity and politics. The key to this kind of venture lies with the local school board, that has to reach out and call for assistance.Don’t be ashamed, we all know what the situation is like in Guyana,I’m absolutely certain, that former graduates of PC, would respond postively.
Take the first step PC board !!!
Tell that to Amarie, Ms Poland.
I was never a student of PC but consider myself a true nationalist and what’s happening at that national institution is indeed a NATIONAL DISGRACE.
Moreso, I consider myself a DOER, instead of a TALKER. And for starters, the PC alumni with the local school board, I am sure, can come up with a project to have a trestle erected to accommodate the water tank that is now posing a fire hazard. Can’t they, or is it rocket science????
One project at a time, just one if they really CARE!!!
Instead of living in hermandston annexe rent free on the back of the tax payers rawberts persaud and the govt should spend that monies on PC.
And if the president’s college is being neglected that means that the PNC R uckus party should come forward and pay some attention to the situation there instead of spending their money to indulge in petty politics, after all, they are the ones that built the president’s college. Point to ponder: when the Socialist PPP came to power a lot of the bandits that are being shot and killed today were little boys with no hope in an education system that failed to nurture and guide them in the right direction.