A partnership between the Ministry of Education and the Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) Guyana staff enabled a joint group to participate in a study tour to Canada that will inform education practices here.
According to a press release, the tour was a part of the VSO Guyana and VSO Canada joint Diaspora Volunteering programme that is funded by the Canadian International Development Agency. The objectives were to allow ministry officials to explore Guyanese Diaspora Organisations in Canada and examine areas in which Diaspora volunteers can support Guyana’s education system. It also allowed ministry officials to visit educational institutions to gain insight into good practices.
The officials met members of the Canada Guyana Teachers Education Project, the Saint Stanislaus Alumni Association and two Diaspora volunteering organisations that send persons to Guyana to work in the education sector.
These institutions include the Ministry of Education, Toronto District School Board, Charles G Fraser Public School, York University and the policy branch of the Canadian ministry that deals with Special Education Needs.
Permanent Secretary at the ministry, Pulander Kandhi said, “the study tour was productive, as areas of co-operation and collaboration were explored that will enhance the [students] quality of learning.”
Meanwhile, VSO Country Director Arlina C Mahinay said VSO is committed to supporting the ministry and exploring ways of providing quality education in Guyana. She also said that the VSO aims to structure the support efforts by thousands of Guyanese living overseas to make it more systematic and sustainable.
The release said the tour was hosted from March 1-9 and the participants included Region One acting Regional Education Officer (REdO) Charles Holmes, Region Seven REdO Mayfield Benjamin, NCERD Director Mohandatt Goolsarran, DCEO (Admin) Roopnarine Tiwari, the ministry’s Human Resources Officer Jacquelin Simon, Education Programme Manager Deborah Jack and VSO-Guyana National and Diaspora Volunteering Programme Manager Tara Persaud.
