Dear Editor,
Tutorial High School, my alma mater, which is in Woolford Avenue Thomas Lands, Georgetown will have its 70th anniversary on September 1, 2009.
This privately-run school was founded on September 1, 1939, by the late Mr Austin Castello, who taught French and English grammar. His school was intended to provide a secondary education for children from low-income families, and it charged very small fees.
Originally, there were two branches of the school. One was located in Bent Street, Wortmanville, and the other was in Fifth Street, Alberttown. The junior forms were mainly accommodated at the Bent Street building, while the senior forms were housed at the Fifth Street section.
In 1945, the younger brother, the late Mr Joseph W Castello, joined the staff as deputy principal and he taught Latin prose and poetry. From then on, the two brothers, together with committed and dedicated members of staff, built up the school.
In September 1958, Tutorial High became a government-aided school. There were 921 students at the time – 478 boys and 443 girls. The following year the science laboratories were established, and Biology, Physics and Chemistry were offered. In 1964 the University of London placed the institution on its list of approved schools in Guyana, because the results of both the senior and higher Cambridge examinations were extremely good. More-over, there were numerous scholarship winners to universities overseas.
Prior to the takeover of education by the state in September 1976, the examination results of Tutorial and similar schools were often very good or sometimes excellent, but unfortunately, today the overall performance in the overseas examinations, CXC and even GCE, shows neither consistency nor congruence with that in the past. However, Tutorial High now a government school, is still making some contribution to our educational system as many who have graduated from there work especially in the fields of education, public administration, industry and business.
At present, Tutorial is recognized as an (A) Grade secondary school, with a student population of about 1,000 students, or a little more. Its curriculum is wide and varied and offers many subjects in the areas of science, business, languages, social studies and several others – a well balanced programme up to the CXC level.
The significant image of the school is its Latin motto inscribed on the school badge, ‘Accipimus Ut Demus’ – ‘We receive that we may give’ – we acquire knowledge in order to pass it on to others.
In view of this momentous 70th anniversary, Tutorial High School will continue to progress in all its efforts towards the delivery of education in Guyana.
Yours faithfully,
Autry A. Fernandes
