Diaspora initiative will result in 8 schools educational services improving

Easier access to online curricula and learning will see scores of young people from several schools across the country benefiting as 70 tablets were donated by a Diaspora-based group called Guyanese United To Serve our Youth (GUTSY) Inc.

It was revealed that eight schools, both public and private, will be the first beneficiaries of this initiative. At a simple ceremony, which also saw the launch of the organisation’s new website, GUTSY BACKYARD, Head of the Diaspora Unit at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Rolinda Rasul, disclosed that the ministry will continue to implore other stakeholders to lend support to initiatives that work towards the improvement of the nation.

“We want to encourage parents, teachers, and the school system basically, to continue to give our diaspora as much support as they possibly can, because these are people who put their time, their energy, their resources,” Rasul said. Chief Education Officer, Dr Marcel Hutson, pointed out that the ministry will be willing to use all methods of technology to deliver quality education whilst still battling with COVID-19.

“Every laptop, every tablet, every projector, everything that has to do with technology is important as we go through this phase,” Dr Hutson urged. He added, “I want to assure that at the Education Ministry, at the level of the minister, we will continue that support and whatever we can do to make this process better, because it is for the benefit our children, and by extension the nation.”  

Meanwhile, the founder of the NGO Janice Hall, explained that while academic excellence is important, characters must also be developed for children to succeed in life. Hall noted that the curriculum being introduced focuses on six key pillars for character building:

• Trustworthiness
• Respect
• Responsibility
• Fairness
• Caring
• Citizenship

“All these skills are vital for children to succeed in school, in college, in their workplace, in their careers, and to live happy, worthy, fulfilling lives and be engaged, responsible citizens,” Hall explained. The NGO founder said that the organisation remains committed to assisting in the delivery of holistic education in Guyana.

“Our team of trainers and our board are committed to working with the Ministry of Education, the students, teachers, [and] caregivers, to ensure our children get the quality education that they deserve. [All we need is] your support to help provide a more holistic approach to education,” Hall detailed.

It was revealed that GUTSY is a non-profit organisation (NGO). Its main focus is to coach and mentor children to develop conduct and behaviour that will enable them to become responsible adults.