President David Granger yesterday announced a village education trust so that the most vulnerable can be provided with support, according to a statement from the Ministry of the Presidency.
He made the announcement as residents of Ann’s Grove and neighbouring communities packed into the Ann’s Grove Secon-dary School to toast Elisa Hamilton, on her achievement at this year’s Carib-bean Advanced Proficien-cy Examination (CAPE).
Hamilton secured five grade ones and one grade two at CAPE, and was honoured by her fellow villagers at a ceremony. Her achievement placed her among the country’s top CAPE performers. Hamilton had previously expressed dismay that a scholarship she had thought was forthcoming from the previous government was not available. Granger pledged yesterday to address this matter.
Granger spoke of the important role villages must play in educating the nation’s children. The President said villages, throughout the country, must strive to return to the days when they were all “cradles of democracy”. Over the years, the President said that village economies have become weakened and as a result they weren’t self-reliant any longer.
Granger added that school dropout rates across the country are alarming and there is the need for every stakeholder in the society, including families and churches to play their role in ensuring that every child attends school. He noted that November 7 has been designated “National Day of Villages” and also announced another initiative, which will allow villages to be involved in providing support for the educational development of their young people.
The statement said that proposing the name “Village Education Scholarship Trust”, Granger said once this scheme is established in villages they will receive funding from the Government so that the most vulnerable within these communities can be provided with support. He said that the proposed name does not necessarily have to be used by every village but what is more important is that there is accountability for the disbursement and management of the trust.
He said that this latest addition will add to the existing “Three B’s” boats, bicycle and buses initiative, which seeks to provide transportation for children to get to school.
“We have to look after children. We have to make sure that they can get to school, in the first place, so that we produce not one… we need thousands and thousands of Elisas. Every village must be able to produce scholars of excellence, scholars of quality,” the President said, according to the statement.
Equally important, the President said, is the need to break the cycle of “hereditary poverty” through education. “The way to do it is by removing inequalities and by giving every child opportunities… Forty years ago there were five top schools. There should be fifty. There should be a top school in every region. We have to expand. We have to enlarge the number of top schools in the country so that every child in this country could have access to a top school,” the President said.
The statement said that the gathering was also reminded of the importance of all Guyanese having access to the information and technology super highway, which the President says he sees as an entitlement.
The President lauded Hamilton’s efforts and that of the villagers who played a role in supporting her development and success. He called on her to see her achievement as an opportunity, rather than a victory as she leads the way for other youths in her village. “We are here to congratulate her. It is not easy to achieve what she has worked hard for and she deserves to be rewarded and congratulated, but this is an opportunity. It is not victory,” the President said.
Noting Hamilton’s disappointment with the offer by the previous administration to apply for a scholarship to study in Guyana, China or Cuba, when it had originally been promised that the top CSEC and CAPE performers would be provided with scholarships to study at universities of their choice in any field, Granger declared that promises must be kept. He said that this matter will be resolved by his administration.
Hamilton thanked her parents, teachers and her fellow villagers, who supported her throughout her secondary school life. She noted that the event was a clear indication of how much education is valued by her villagers. “To young people I would like to encourage you all to reach for greatness. It does not matter where you came from, what your family background is, what your circumstance is, you have to want it,” she said, according to the statement.
Hamilton was presented with a computer by the President, a plaque from the Hamilton Award Com-mittee and a cheque from Justice Nandram Kissoon, among other accolades. A billboard was also unveiled at the Ann’s Grove Market Tarmac in honour of her achievement.
