Declaring that the history of Guyana has been a contest between education and stagnation, President David Granger yesterday told the 2015 graduates of President College “there must be a second independence, one that frees us from dependency, frees us from discrimination, domination and the abuse of rights and our freedoms.”
Granger was at the time delivering the feature address at the 25th graduation ceremony of the College.
In his second visit to the college founded by Guyana’s first executive president, the president declared that “education
is a lifelong promise which must be continuously augmented…if you want to protect your future…you have to be continuously educated and re-educated.”
Throughout his 20-minute presentation the commander-in-chief drew parallels between Guyana’s fight for independence and a student’s quest for education.
“Independence,” he said “is what makes us equal, we are an independent state. Independence is the basis of self-esteem and respect. Respect which each one of use must hold for each other.”
He further asserted that unless we take care of the schools and the children this country will one day “be drowned in a terrible flood of ignorance.”
He referenced the large number of boys and girls who yearly drop out of primary and secondary school or do not proceed to tertiary education and stated that education is essential to the country’s survival.
Noting that many small countries like Guyana with highly educated populations have been successful in providing a higher quality of life for their citizens the president told the students that the next 50 years belong to them for it is they who must carry the torch of independent thought and national development.
“Education will serve no purpose unless it contributes to making us personally free or contributes to our national independence,” Granger declared.
The president further reiterated a promise to deliver a “fresh approach to public education” by transforming secondary schools into centres of excellence which will generate skills grounded in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) that are necessary for national development.
President’s college he stressed is assured that it will remain an institution of excellence
To resounding applause the president declared that “no college student should ever have to fetch water, or fetch wood.
No well should ever be allowed to run dry, classrooms and dormitories should not suffer power outages, playfields must be used for sport not cow pastures, computer laboratories and workshops must not become junkyards and libraries must not become museums.”
Granger acknowledged that all of these changes won’t happen overnight but committed to keep visiting the college until it is “thoroughly cleaned up.”
In her report the School’s Principal acknowledged the president’s recent efforts to fulfill his promises.
She shared how with the help of the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown and the Ministry of Infrastructure the president made sure that the entire school’s compound was cleaned in one day.
She also shared how in one day the president was able to equip the entire campus with wireless internet service.
Noting that “to whom much is given much is expected,” the principal expressed gratitude to the board of governors who under the chairmanship of Mahender Sharma were able to complete a project which provides solar lights to all the dormitories.
She also urged her staff both academic and non-academic to keep up the good work.
“Continue to be mother and father, teach them with a purpose, and take the quality of education to a level that is second to none. Know that you are always recognized and highly appreciated.”
This year President’s College celebrated an 87.99 % pass rate at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) with 100% passes in 13 of the 28 subjects sat by students.
