The Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) has extended congratulations to President Bharrat Jagdeo and government on the establishment of the Education Television Broadcasting Service (ETBS).
“As Muslims we believe in the value of education and we believe that it is the duty of every individual to seek knowledge throughout his/her lifetime,” CIOG said in a press release. The group also lauded the development as a first for Guyana and the Caribbean.
The ETBS channel will operate transmitters at Georgetown, Benab, New Amsterdam, Anna Regina, Linden, Ituni, Kwakwani, Mahdia, Bartica, Orealla, Annai, Lethem, Aishalton, Karasabai, Mabaruma and Port Kaituma. From these locations, residents will be able to receive the signals free to air distances from 25-50 miles from each broadcast site. The signal will be distributed to each site via a satellite downlink, another first for television in Guyana, the release said.
Phase Two of the roll out of ETBS would be on stream by the end of April and by the end of May the hinterland region would be serviced. Phase Two of the service will see coverage extended to Bartica, Linden, Ituni and Kwakwani, Mahdia and Orealla while in the last segment Annai, Aishalton, Karasabai, Mabaruma and Port Kaituma will be covered.
Programming will begin from 09:00 hrs and run throughout school hours, targeting nursery and primary school students, and then programmes for CXC-level students, technical and vocational education institutions and teacher education programmes will follow and run until 23:00 hrs.
The CIOG said it was extremely pleased “to witness this modern approach to the delivery of education in Guyana.”
