People’s Republic of China donates 50 additional table tennis tables to Education Ministry

The Education Ministry received the second tranche of 50 table tennis tables from the People’s
Republic of China through the Embassy here in Guyana aimed at promoting the sport in schools.
The equipment was handed over at the National Centre for Education Resource Development
(NCERD) on Tuesday.
Education Minister Priya Manickchand said that the world has moved past dividing sport and
academia. She noted that the education ministry is working hard to incorporate sport and what
used to be considered extracurricular activities into the academic curriculum because the benefits
have been tremendous. Manickchand said that the 50 table tennis tables and complimentary
rackets and balls will go to 50 schools and her ministry will ensure that the hinterland high
schools and primary tops are the first beneficiaries since they are often left behind.
Manickchand said that the donation will bring tremendous benefit to students who are going to
be exposed. “I could see us welcoming this very much in the school sector and it becoming
something that is hugely enjoyable to the thousands of children who will be exposed. So we want
to thank the Government and people of China and commit to the ongoing prevailing friendship
that we have between the countries. We believe that this kind of friendship that manifests itself
in the real transfer of skills transfer of knowledge is one that bodes well not only for the two
countries but for a wider community as a world,” the education minister said.
President of the Guyana Table Tennis Association, Mr. Godfrey Munroe said that today’s
handing over was significant and symbolic for the development of sports and as it relates to
sports development in the education sector. Munroe said that the donation is a testimony to the
bonds and friendships, respect and collaboration between the China Government and the Guyana
Government. He said that the journey to today’s proceedings began with many meetings between
the GTTA and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China.

According to Munroe, with Tuesday’s presentation, opportunities for coaches to visit China to
learn of their methodologies and train as well as opportunities for players from China to visit
Guyana and train with our players will be possible and will provide the support for the building
of a home for the development of the sport in Guyana, a process he said that is currently
ongoing. “We believe that this project is significant in the context that it provides a framework
and key pillars for the development of the sport grounded in the education sector because the
education sector as we know has a large target audience of students who we as an association
rely on for talent identification and development,” he stressed.

The GTTA President said that the development of the sport through the education sector will see
the participation of students between the ages of six to 18 years old in all the education districts
across Guyana. “We will utilize our certified coaches who will visit schools on a resident or
cluster basis. They will engage and orient our students in training and in competition among
other developmental pathways. The program will be supplemented with training for teachers at
the targeted schools to engage them in a 12-hour program which will ensure that they become
competent at least to provide fundamental training for the students,” he explained.

It was noted that Tuesday’s ceremony is the first official event that the Ambassador of the
People’s Republic of China to Guyana, Guo Haiyan attended since presenting her letters of
credence. She said that the initiative between the Embassy, the Education Ministry and the
GTTA began in 2019 to promote table tennis in primary and secondary schools in Guyana. She
said at that time, 50 sets of table tennis equipment to 50 primary and secondary schools covering
the 10 regions were donated and that this year an additional 50 sets are being donated.
“I believe that the equipment can inspire the students to have a stronger interest in table tennis
and playing table tennis can become one of their best memories in teenage years,” Ambassador
Haiyan said. The ambassador further said that she hopes the people of China and Guyana
continue to use table tennis and other sports as a medium to enhance exchanges, mutual learning,
and mutual understanding and to carry a friendship between China and Guyana for generations
During Tuesday’s event an agreement was signed between the GTTA, the Ministry of Education
and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China to promote the sport in schools, the provision
of additional equipment and the establishment of training and exchange programmes for coaches
and players.