Dear Editor,
The Ministry of Education and the Government of Guyana have been boasting in recent years about improvements in the standard of education in the country and the amount of new schools that have been constructed or re-built. Here is something for the Minister of Education to look at: All Saints’ Primary School in New Amsterdam was recently re-built and students entered the spanking new facility on September 1. On September 10 a PTA meeting was held at the school and parents were informed that the Department of Education in Region 6 had instructed that a re-commisioning ceremony be held on Thursday September 17.
Following that announcement the headteacher asked parents to assist in the preparations for this, and the rest of the meeting was taken up with parents being asked to contribute and hold fundraisers for book-racks in the classrooms and library because the school books are in boxes on the library floor; the construction of a cycle shed and a host of other things to make life better for the students.
Mr Minister, life is tough and our earnings are low. We have to fill our kids’ snack packs, pay our domestic bills, pay VAT on goods and commodities, support our physical well-being − and you know the rest. So, tell me, who is responsible for ensuring that new schools have the facilities that I mentioned earlier?
There is no point in building new schools and leaving them as though they were a dance floor, so parents have to undertake the responsibility of ensuring that funds are made available to complete a job which is the task of the government! I sympathise with the administrative staff of All Saints Primary, because even though they are not permitted to demand funds, they still force the issue by begging for help to safeguard our children. Twist it or turn it, parents always feel the strain. How many cycles must be stolen before a shed is constructed? How many books must be flung about, eaten by insects and destroyed before racks are given to place them on? And who must ensure that screens are built to separate each class to aid better learning?
Help save the new structure, Mr Minister; parents will be grateful for the relief from stress.
Yours faithfully,
SA Peters
Editor’s note
We are sending a copy of this letter to Minister of Education, Mr Shaik Baksh, for any comments he may wish to make.
