Dear Editor,
Recently the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) celebrated its 30th anniversary mere days before we marked the 8th death anniversary of the late Deryck Melton Alexander Bernard.
Many readers would be asking the question, what is the nexus between NCERD and Mr Deryck Bernard. Well, this institution was the brainchild of Mr Bernard and was established during his tenure as Minister of Education in 1986-1992. Thus the remarkable work executed by this institution over the years is testimony to his pragmatic leadership, vision and commitment to the development of the education sector as a policy-maker.
Outside of his role as a policy-maker, Mr Bernard spent all his working life making meaningful contributions to the education sector commencing as a master, History and Geography, at his alma mater Queen’s College, before he joined the University of Guyana community in 1974 as a lecturer in Geography where he worked for twenty-five years, in various positions. He served as senior lecturer (2004-07), first Dean of the School of Education & Humanities (2003-04), Dean of the Faculty of Arts (1999-2003) and Head of the Department of Geography (1981-83, 1998-99 and 1992-96). While at the university he was also instrumental in the establishment of the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences.
He also served as Musical Director of the University Culture Group (1979-1983), representative of the University of Guyana on the Academic Policy Board of the Caribbean University Level Programme (2000-03), University of Guyana representative on the Board of the Association of Amazonian Universities (2003-04) and chairman of the Unesco National Commission.
As an accomplished academic and policy-maker Mr Bernard has an exhaustive list of publications, seminar papers, local and international conference presentations and public lectures too numerous to mention.
Given the aforementioned credentials, contributions and the coincidence of his death anniversary with NCERD’s 30th anniversary, it will be fitting for the Minister of Education Dr Rupert Roopnaraine to favourably consider renaming this institution in his honour. I am of the fervent view that for the history of our beloved country to be complete and appreciated by the citizenry, due recognition must be given to the contributors to that history.
Yours faithfully,
Bevon Currie
