The union said in a release that it is pleased to announce the appointment of Chandarpal as the Principal of the college, with its opening in March being a tribute to the late president Dr Cheddi Jagan. GAWU stated that Chandarpal has been associated with the organisation’s education classes as a lecturer since 1980 and he also lectured at the Critchlow Labour College and the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) prior to his appointment as a presidential adviser. He also served for many years as a secondary school teacher and lectured at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) as well as the University of Guyana (UG), the release stated.
A GAWU official told Stabroek News yesterday that the facility, which will house the college was recently completed. The building is adjacent to the union’s headquarters on High Street, Kingston and its construction was funded by the union’s resources. The day-to-day running of the institution will also be covered by the organization.
GAWU stated that it has been providing educational programmes for its members at its former headquarters on Regent Street which was completely destroyed by fire after the 2001 general elections. While the organization had continued to hold education and training programmes for its members at various locations, the union had to suspend its two to three weeks residential classes, which it stated, had contributed significantly to the improvement of the skills of hundreds of its members in the past. The organization stated that it is now poised to resume the residential classes and to expand and intensify its outreach programmes.
Included among the subject areas which will be on the institution’s curriculum and which GAWU stated will enhance the skills of its members and serve them well in their day to day life, are the history and struggles of GAWU; history of Trade Unionism in Guyana; the International Working Class Movement and the landmark achievements of its struggles and activities as well as the historic role of workers as a class especially in influencing socio-economic changes. GAWU noted that its educational work also seeks to deepen participants’ knowledge about Guyana while at the same time, raise their awareness of world developments and current trends and issues.
GAWU stated in the release that as was done in the past, its educational programmes will rely on the assistance of several guest lecturers who will cover several subject areas and according to the union such involvement is intended to widen the knowledge base of its members, while simultaneously equipping them to ably and responsibly carry out their duties as workers/citizens.
