Under the theme,” Education: the key to national development’ the Ministry of Education yesterday launched Education Month. Education Month is observed annually throughout the month of September.
Delivering the feature address at the launch held at the Ministry’s Sports Ground, Carifesta Avenue was the Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry, who said that government fully embraces to notion that education is the key to national development. She moreover, noted that if education fails, the nation fails.
She said that in 2019, $52.2 billion was allocated to the education sector which represents a 15 per cent increase from what was allocated to the sector from the national budget. “This investment in education is crucial and critical to the development of this nation”, Minister Henry noted.
In the formal education system, the Minister said that government has made a priority to bridge the gap between the Hinterland and Coastland with the view and understanding that the development of a nation is dependent on all of its people. She added, “Education is the bedrock of any meaningful development.”
Minister Henry said that development cannot be sought without the development of the nation’s people. She said that the sector is performing well and this is possible because of the commitment and dedication of each person within the sector that serves with a purpose.
She, moreover, commended the teachers, education officers and staffers of the Ministry for their dedication, hard work, and commitment, and in some cases sacrifice that result in the great performance by the sector.
Chief Education Officer (CEO), Dr. Marcel Hutson during his presentation said that Education Month 2019 marks the beginning of another chapter in the history of the education system.
He said that progress as a nation can be no swifter than the progress in education. The CEO said that Guyana must do everything to protect and enrich its human resource.
He said that education performs many functions including the transmission of culture through the instilling of social norms, values and beliefs into the next generation, facilitating social integration, career selection, socialisation, rational thinking and patriotism.
During the launch, there were performances by the National School of Dance, the Buxton Steel Orchestra and the South Ruimveldt Secondary School.
