Government is interested in constructive engagement with any religious or civic organisation to develop programmes and projects that provide equal access to education for vulnerable children, according to Education Minister Dr Rupert Roopnaraine.
“A literate society is one where human beings live in complete respect for each other. Our task in this country is to create a literate society,” Roopnaraine was reported as saying in his charge to the graduates at the Al Ghazali Islamic Academy graduation ceremony, which was held on Saturday. Students at the academy gained 80% or more at the recent National Grade Six Assessment. Twenty-one students wrote the exams, two of whom are in the top 1%, a press release from the Education Ministry said.
Noting that enough was not being done in Guyana and the wider world to meet the needs of those without access to equal education, Dr Roopnaraine was reported as commending the academy for its work. Further, he said, government is “committed to end any form of unequal access that exists in our society between those who are more and those who are less privileged.”
“I am therefore glad to see that institutions such as the Central Islamic Organisation, through this programme, is prepared and is playing its part to level the playing field between those who have and those who don’t have access to education in our society,” he said. “…Divisions within the society must end,” he told the graduates and urged them to start thinking about the contribution they can make to foster understanding and amiable relationships within their families and communities.
Dr Roopnaraine thanked the CIOG for its continuous commitment to providing quality education to children, while noting that the organisation is mindful of its duty laid out to Muslims in the Quaran.
