Eight persons graduated on Monday from a three-month training programme on skills required to work with special needs children.
A release from the Ministry of Education said that the eight individuals are the first batch of trainees in this regard. They are: Keenan Benjamin, Mycinth Robertson, Calvin Lawrie, Yolanda Williams, June Herod, Kalina Phillips, Michelle Nicholas and Kelly Coonjah.
The eight will work at the Centre to Stimulate the Development of Children, Adolescents and Youth with Special Education Needs associated with Disabilities which will be located in the compound of the Cyril Potter College of Education.
The project is being done in collaboration with Cuba.
Speaking at the event, Cuban Ambassador to Guyana, Narciso Socorro, expressed his happiness that through collaboration the project has become a reality. He said that the idea for the centre was birthed at the Fifth CARICOM-Cuba Summit in Cuba in December 2014. Delivering the feature address at the graduation ceremony at the National Centre for Education Resource Development (NCERD), Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry said the initiative is an exemplary illustration of stakeholders working together for the common good of Guyana’s educational mandate, “Quality Education for All”.
Henry noted that it is encouraging to know that the Centre facilitates training for the management of persons with disabilities for not only teachers and social workers, but additionally training in the support and guidance of parents and family members of special needs individuals as well.
“The services of the centre will serve all of Guyana and also extend to the rest of the Caribbean as it is the central hub for the CARICOM region,” Henry said.
