Region 10 Education Department did ‘remarkably well’

DEAR EDITOR,

Head of the Regional Education Committee of Region 10, Denise Belgrave said that she is elated as to the performance of the Education Department over the past year. She admitted that there were several challenges both internal and external but stressed that overall Education did remarkably well in Region 10.
The Regional Councillor who did not mince her words said that she anticipates that for 2020, teachers, parents and education officers including the Regional Education Officer (REdO), Rabrindra Singh would recognize that more is expected of them if education is going to continue excelling within Region 10. She said that she was somewhat disappointed over a few incidents but said that several schools through their teachers and support from parents have sought to make education their number one priority.

“We in Region 10 for the past year have had some really significant contributions from several teachers and students thus helping to place Region Ten in the limelight for almost every area of education. We are very happy with the equal support from a number of parents and the public, however, while we are overall please with the level of support and assistance given, we are concerned over the performances of some Education Officers. The Regional Chairman in several of the RDC meetings has stressed the importance of several officers raising the bar and recognizing that they are expected to improve in their own performance, and I would reiterate what the RC has been saying,” Belgrave said.

She disclosed that in 2019 while no new schools were built, they were able to repair and renovate some 90 per cent of schools. She, however, said that work started on the construction of Bamia Nursery and Primary, stating that work is moving satisfactorily thus far with regards to the construction of that school. She disclosed that all the riverain areas are now fully staffed with teachers, adding that they were able to appoint an officer for Sub-District Two this year while providing accommodation and home furnishing for teachers who are working in various parts of the region. “We were able to provide accommodation for all teachers who are working in various areas including the riverain and Sub-district Two. We also secured furnishings for their living quarters, thus ensuring that they are very comfortable and properly accommodated. This along with the fact that all schools, especially in the riverain areas, are fully staffed are some of the major achievements that we secured in 2019,” the Regional Education Committee Head said.

Belgrave, who heads the seven-member Education Committee also disclosed that they are anticipating seeing more schools being done in 2020 with the construction of a few more schools. She said that Education in Region 10 is not only to Linden but the Berbice River, stating that several schools saw the hot meal programme being introduced in both Berbice River and Kwakwani. She disclosed that there were several tilings to school floors and the acquisition of cold storage for schools in Linden and Kwakwani, stressing that Education has been progressing very well. “We saw the introduction of a number of new projects and programmes, thus further advancing Region 10 as a force to reckon with.

She said that Region 10 excelled at academics, sports and the arts declaring that it is the only region that has seen such high performances in all three areas. “Our students have been doing exceptionally well as we once again defended our National Schools’ Track and Field Championship title-winning it for the fifth consecutive year, while it is their 15th overall title. During the 2019 Mashramani Schools Competition we dominated a number of categories and came in the top three for the mash day activities as well, while for academics we excelled at Grade Two and Four exams with several of our students doing very well at Grade six and yet another great year for CSEC results for our students,” she declared.

She expressed the view that it has reinforced the fact that the region continues to excel in several ways. She said that they are hoping that through a public-private partnership that several corporate companies and individuals would come on board to lend valuable support, aiding in rewarding several of the athletes who she said have over the years been making the region proud. “We see every year whereby our athletes go to nationals and excel but unfortunately the region doesn’t have the kind of monies that would enable us to reward them accordingly. However, we are hoping that for the new year we can find innovative and creative ways in expressing our gratitude and thanks to these athletes and persons from the performing arts in a more meaningful way. It must be noted however that we usually recognize them publicly and the view of the Education Committee is that we should be able to do something significant and tangible,” she stressed.

Commenting on the water purification projects which was implemented in two schools, the Regional Education Committee head said that it has been going well, noting that many are impressed with what has been happening at the Mackenzie High School with regards to this project. She declared that it seeks to ensure that the water remains pure, thus being healthier for human consumption.
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RDC Region 10