“Embrace the code of conduct that governs the noble profession of teaching as it relates to decorum and behaviour around students.”
This was the charge of Prime Minister and First Vice President, Moses Nagamootoo, as he addressed the batch of 418 graduate teachers of the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) who made up the institution’s 84th Graduation ceremony. The event was held on Thursday at the National Cultural Centre.
Nagamootoo, a former teacher himself, encouraged the teachers to be exemplary in their profession since those under their charge will seek to emulate them.
According to the senior government functionary, the newly qualified teachers are entering the system at a very exciting time in their life when Guyana is transitioning into a higher and richer society which will allow for them to be exposed to greater opportunities. He, moreover, urged them to continue to develop and to quantify their learning adding, “The world, the horizon is unlimited for you to develop but Cyril Potter (College of Education) is the beginning and it has been an excellent foundation for you to go out there with confidence.”
Among the graduates are 76 who are Early Childhood trained, 115 who are Primary trained, 223 who are Secondary trained and four who are trained to teach in Post-Secondary institutions.
According to CPCE Principal, Ms. Viola Rowe, 13 graduates passed with distinction, 403 with credit and two achieved passes. The Overall Best Graduating student is Ms. Annamarie Isserdeen Samaroo of the Region Three Vreed-en-Hoop centre. She received the Presidential Award of Excellence and the Prime Minister’s Prize.
One major highlight of this graduating class is that five students have graduated with an Associate Degree in Information Technology.
Rowe expressed her utmost confidence in the graduates as she assured those in attendance that the institution has strictly adhered to the entry criteria for each programme.
The programmes from which students graduated are the two-year Associate Degree programme, the three-year Trained Teachers’ Certificate programme for the Hinterland and Riverine Centres and the one year Associate Degree in Education programme.
