The education system added 418 newly trained teachers to its ranks when the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) held its 84th graduation exercise yesterday at the National Cultural Centre.
According to The Ministry of Education (MoE) press release, of the 418 graduate teachers, 76 are Early Childhood trained, 115 are Primary trained, 223 are Secondary trained and 4 are trained to teach in Post-Secondary Institutions. The MoE release also stated that 13 graduates achieved passes with distinction, 403 passes with credit and 2 students achieved passes.
The programmes from which students graduated are the Associate Degree two-year programme, the Trained Teachers’ Certificate three-year programme for Hinterland and Riverine Centres and the Associate Degree in Education one year programme.
A notable highlight of this graduating class is that five students graduated with an Associate Degree in Information Technology.
The Overall Best Graduating student was Annamarie Isserdeen Samaroo from the Vreed-en-Hoop Centre, Region Three. She received the Presidential Award of Excellence and the Prime Minister’s Prize.
CPCE Principal, Viola Rowe expressed her utmost confidence in the graduates and assured those in attendance that the institution had strictly adhered to the entry criteria for each programme.
In her Principal’s Report, Rowe said that during the last reporting period it was projected that the CPCE would offer Teacher Education and Training in this current reporting period of 2017 – 2018, in at least one location, which was in the North Pakaraimas, Region Eight.
Rowe disclosed that this was achieved with the resuscitation of the Paramakatoi Centre and further stated that it was projected that the College would design and implement an effective system of monitoring and evaluation which would include a strategy of the use of the staff appraisal instrument in all satellite centres. She added that this system was introduced in the reporting period in all satellite centres on the coast.
“This approach allows for gaps, limitations and strengths to be identified across centres,” the Principal was quoted as saying while adding that the results would be used to inform the type and nature of development activities necessary at the individual centre and institution.
Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo in delivering the feature address at yesterday’s convocation, told the graduates that they are graduating at a very exciting time in their life when Guyana is transitioning into a higher and richer society. He encouraged the teachers to be exemplary in their profession and to embrace the code of conduct that governs the noble profession as it relates to decorum and behaviour around students since those under their charge will seek to emulate their elders.
He went on to say that greater opportunities will be available and urged them to continue to develop and to quantify their learning and added, “The world, the horizon is unlimited for you to develop but Cyril Potter (College of Education) was the beginning and it has been an excellent foundation for you to go out there with confidence.”
Director of the National Centre for Education Resource Development (NCERD), Jennifer Cumberbatch spoke on behalf of the Minister of Education, Dr Nicolette Henry.
In her presentation she said that it was heart-warming to witness the strengthening of the pillar of education and welcomed the new cohort of teachers graduating from the CPCE.
“With your new qualifications you will be equipped to take your place as grade one, class one teachers of the new generation of Guyanese youth,” the Director was quoted as saying.
Moreover, she said that the Government of Guyana is committed to changing the educational landscape of Guyana and that the CPCE is a fundamental part of that change.
The Director told her audience, “With increased investments and improvements to the infrastructure, curriculum and courses, the priority is to provide modern facilities with new equipment, enhanced training and review courses so as to cater for our 21st century needs.”
Adding to the highlights mentioned by the Principal, Cumberbatch said that several meaningful improvements were made at the college. These improvements include, procurement of fume cupboards, increased water supply to dormitories, provision of meals to non-resident students and the resuscitation of the Teachers’ Upgrading Programme in Region Eight.
The MoE stated that teachers for the upgrading programme were drawn from 18 villages in Region Eight, sub-region one. These include: Paramakatoi, Chiung Mouth, Bamboo Creek, Chenapou, Itabac, Kaibarupai, Kurukubaru, Kanapang, Kopinang, Kamana, Monkey Mountain, Waipa, Tuseneng, Kato and Karisparu, Maikwak, Taruka.
During the graduation exercise, a tribute was paid to the late Principal, Olive Lykeyn, who was the first female principal of the college.
