PNCR-1G parliamentarian Amna Ally yesterday told the budget debate that many schools were built during the previous and present administrations but the key difference was how human resources were used.
Ally, during her presentation on the 2007 budget said the government was weakened by its lack of vision; corruption and a lack of capacity to implement plans and now a plethora of problems were creeping up. Government, said Ally, must understand that human resources are vital for the effective delivery of education. The government also said many children in and out of school cannot read and write. Ally responded that this has been a long outstanding issue, must be examined forthwith and the correct methodology must be employed.
She also highlighted the fact the PNCR-1G carried out a survey on literacy and numeracy with alarming results. The findings, she said, were used to establish learning centres in Sophia and East Ruimveldt to solve the problem. These kinds of institutions, she said, would continue to be supported. Ally also touched on the category of students who, on completion of the Secondary Schools Entrance Examination, did not acquire the necessary marks to go to high school and so have been placed in special schools. She said no requisite resources are put into these schools so the students are sent there and left to languish. She also pointed out that this problem does not only occur in Region Five but is pervasive and this category of students must not be neglected. Ally implored the government to find workable programmes.
The PNCR-1G MP suggested that government learn from other nations and pointed out that a programme initiated in St Kitts during the late 1980s has been paying dividends after that country invested in life skills training, adolescent development and vocational summer programmes. Ally said the Basic Education Access and Management Support programme, which she said is in its final year of operation, has still not begun to meet basic targets. Among these she singled out the lack of furniture in schools, querying how the problem would be solved with no teaching and no plan in place. She also said that equipping schools with computers and no support means that there is no benefit for the nation to reap in the long run.
Ally also urged the government to review the salaries and benefits for teachers. Touching on the five-year agreement struck between the government and the Guyana Teachers’ Union she said if one looks at the details it is highly impossible for many to benefit from the programme. She called on the government to address the issue of welfare systems to deal with truancy and absenteeism. She also suggested that the government embrace the PNCR as it has experience in this area and it is clear that the administration cannot deal with the issue alone.
Additionally, PNCR-1G parliamentarian Dr George Norton said employees in the health and teaching sectors are migrating at a steady rate. Quoting from an IMF report on health service delivery he said it highlighted that the poor working habits of employees, their hostile behaviour and the absence of staff restricted service provided to the poor, emphasising that the shortage of staff poses a risk to patients. Norton suggested that nurses needed a better salary to stay in Guyana as if remuneration was not up to standard people would go. He said only one from a complement of 18 psychiatric nurses serves the psychiatric hospital and the wards at Berbice and Georgetown respectively. Norton also pointed out that the hinterland areas are now faced with new epidemics: alcoholism and marijuana abuse and it needs to be nipped in the bud.
Minister of Amerindian Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues, in responding to the opposition speakers Norton and Desmond Fernandes, told the house that plans are in train at the ministry to help Amerindian communities in areas that are important to each village. She said there has been an increase in the funds allocated to hinterland areas and that government was vibrantly introducing health services into various remote locations.
Rodrigues pointed out that unemployment was difficult to tackle because of the remoteness of certain communities. However, she said that educational opportunities were increasing for hinterland residents and revealed the likely construction of a dormitory for hinterland students in 2008 for which a location was presently being sought. Rodrigues also said that the policy on land was legislated into law, increasing the percentage of Guyana’s land mass now controlled by indigenous peoples.
She also said that training for village councillors has paid off with several projects granted to communities from 2004 to present day. Several of these communities have completed the projects though there is need for continuous training she said. Rodrigues also said the ministry is dealing with issues such as issuing birth certificates to Amerindians and remuneration for Amerindian mining employees. She said it was developing into a serious issue because for the year 20 disgruntled workers have approached her ministry for assistance.
