In a show of gratitude for their years of dedication in the teaching profession as well as exemplary performance, 50 teachers across the 10 regions of Guyana were yesterday honoured in a ceremony held yesterday at the National Cultural Centre.
The programme was held by the Ministry of Education in partnership with School of the Nations, and the nominees were selected by their Regional Departments of Education.
The awardees were lauded by Dr Brian O’Toole, School of the Nations’ Director, for their contribution to a “new model of education.” This new model, he stated, was one which did away with the notion that children were “receptacles to be filled,” which perpetuated a culture of silence and dependency.
Instead, it is one in which children are allowed to think, be creative, consult and communicate, therefore enabling them to evaluate their strengths and their weaknesses, think in search of solutions, manage their own affairs responsibly, and celebrate unity and diversity among other achievements, he added.
Minister of Education Dr Rupert Roopnaraine delivered the keynote address, during which he made reference to President David Granger’s vision to see Guyana become an “education nation,” and emphasised that the success of everything else in a society is dependent on the education system.
He also spoke of a goal to create “green classrooms,” where climate and environmental literacy have a central place in the curriculum.
The awardees were Cindy Bourne, Edward Inniss, Ingrid Jeffrey, and Lizan Fernandes, of Region 1; Dhanwattie Persaud, Jeneffer Drakes, Pearlette Bholo, and Veronica Pansy Jones, of Region 2; Denise Dazzell, Juliet Elizabeth Augustus, Shaundell Fresco, and Verna Johnson, of Region 3; Indrani Ramnarine, Lesmeine Collins, Maureen Philadelphia, and Pamela Browne, of Region 4; Cindy Nelson, Clavil Mitchell, Lalta Paul, and Mauricia Semple, of Region 5; Deoharie Narine, Roquel Saul, Savitri Madramootoo, and Yvonne Hazel McAlmon, of Region 6; Ann Williams-Holmes, Carmel Williams, Pamela June Daniels, and Paulette Peters, of Region 7; Barry Don Joe, Mariam Edwin, Odessa Paul, and Shauneille Jourdain, of Region 8; Cousma Frank, Lennox Henry, Loreen Jarvis, and Virgil Harding, of Region 9; Charlyn Duke Agard, Judith Forde, Rita Fox, and Vernelle Razack Giles, of Region 10; Allison Melanie Cosbert, Ayana Tanisha Williams, Diane Peters, and Sharon Angela Trotman, of Georgetown; and education officials Carl Benn, Donna Chapman, Doodmattie Singh, Francesa Vieira, Genieve Whyte-Nedd, and Savitri Balbahadur.
