On Sunday, 51 students graduated from the University of Guyana’s Institute of Distance and Continuing Education Berbice Centre.
Held at the Town Hall in New Amsterdam, the 33rd graduation exercise saw the successful students receiving their certificates after completing courses in Industrial Relations and Management, Supervisory Management, Business Management, Marketing, Introduction to Social Work 1, Care of the Elderly, Computer Appli-cations, Language and Communication, Pre-University Mathematics sand Pre-University English.
In giving the resident tutor’s report, Janice John-Alexander disclosed that for the academic year 2012-2013, the tertiary institution registered approximately 158 students: 104 of whom successfully completed their courses, with 41 persons opting to drop out of the various programmes. Reflecting on the past year, John-Alexander said “the centre experienced several challenges, one being power outages which hindered it from meeting projections.”
Nevertheless, this has not deterred the centre from making more projections for the new academic year, as efforts will be made to expand the computer lab.
Lecturer 1 attached to the University of Guyana Berbice Campus Jacqueline Murray who delivered the feature address urged the graduands to not settle for mediocrity, but to be the best at what they do. She further encouraged them to “represent quality” and to “brand yourselves so that employers will want to hold on to you”.
Tasked with delivering the charge, educator Catherine Archer implored the graduates to develop “the qualities of virtue, knowledge, self control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, love and patience in increasing measure and integrate them into every fibre of your lives”.
This year’s valedictorian, Marlyn Joseph, completed the Industrial Relations and Management Programme, earning herself a distinction. Addressing her fellow graduates, she reminisced of the past year, admitting it was hard work – “studying at nights and completing assignments then having to work during the day that got me to this point”. She went on to say the benefits she reaped were worth the sacrifices made. “It was worth it, we have made it, and I am pleased to have made lifelong friends during my journey,” she said.
Brief remarks were also made by Director of IDCE Barbara Thomas-Holder.
Among those who received awards for their outstanding performances were Marlyn Joseph, Jasmattie Ramdass, Wilma Peters, Natasha Loo, Latchmi Haniff, Latoya Williamson, Ashmanie Persaud, Gretta McAllister, Shennella Sinclair, Alicia Jack, Francina Hope, Adel John, Samantha Chisholm, Karen Jack and Winston Profitt.
Tokens were presented to several tutors including Jeanette Crandon and Charles Baker – the longest and still serving tutors at IDCE’s Berbice Centre.
The programme was chaired by the centre’s Psychology of Management tutor Jannelle Williams.
