Dear Editor,
It is saddening that the Guyana Teachers Union would attempt to use the admissions process for the new Associates Degree programme at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) to score cheap political points. Recent statements in the media and other communications received by Board of Governors indicate a clear attempt to misrepresent the facts in this case and warrant a response.
Firstly, the Associate Degree programme being introduced was announced by the Minister of Education over a year ago at various public forums, and discussed in great detail at the level of the Board of CPCE, of which the President of the Guyana Teachers Union is a member. More importantly, all facets of this programme were discussed at a special meeting of the Board of Governors convened to prepare for its implementation. To ensure there was wider consensus, lecturers and administrators of the college were also invited to participate. It was at this forum that concerns were raised regarding the pre-existing admissions process and a number of its weaknesses highlighted. A decision was therefore made to develop new guidelines for admission in keeping with the new academic standards, programme structure and curriculum being introduced. Broad consensus was reached in relation to what those should be, and it must be emphasized that the President of the Guyana Teachers Union was involved in those discussions and at no time objected to the implementation of the new guidelines.
Furthermore, as part of the board’s continuous efforts to maintain the level of excellence one would expect of the country’s only teacher training institution, we committed to ensuring that the process was stringent and transparent. This was also part of our commitment to the University of Guyana as part of the new relationship developed between the two institutions. To that end, teams comprised of senior lecturers and administrators of the college have recently been engaged in the rigorous admissions process for the new student intake.
The Board of Governors at CPCE categorically states that, notwithstanding what obtained in the past, it reserves the right to determine who should participate in the admissions process for the college, especially since a significant percentage of its applicants applied to the pre-service programme and that has no relationship with the Guyana Teachers Union whatsoever. In the spirit of the positive relationship we have always maintained with the union however, we are willing to accommodate a representative where feasible if such a request is made by the Guyana Teachers Union, and to date no such request has been received.
It is clear that the GTU must address the concerns of the percentage of its members who fail to meet the newly established entry criteria; however, attempting to subvert the quality assurance practices of the college and vilify those attempting to maintain standards of excellence at the institution is not the way to attain this objective.
Yours faithfully,
Olato Sam
Chairman
CPCE Board of Governors
