Minister within the Ministry of the Presidency (MoTP) with responsibility for Youth Affairs, Simona Broomes, visited the Valmiki Vidyalaya High School yesterday in observance of the school’s Youth Week 2019.
A MoTP release stated that Minister Broomes in her remarks at the function, which was also attended by the Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine, urged the Grades 10 and 11 students to make the best of the educational opportunities offered to them and to work towards achieving their goals.
The minister encouraged the students to capitalise on every opportunity to learn, pointing out to them that creating an “education nation” continues to be among President David Granger’s priorities.
“Any opportunities offered by this Government for youths will be embedded in equality. We want our youth to be well rounded and well educated. The opportunities that present itself now in Guyana were not there before and you as young people, you have to be educated to take [over] this country,” she said.
The Minister also lauded the teachers at the school and those across the country for their sacrifices and efforts to mould the nation’s children, noting that too often their labours go unrecognised. In addition, she pledged to donate table tennis gear to the school’s Physical Education Department and to liaise with Director of Sports, Christopher Jones to facilitate a closer relationship with the school.
Deputy Headmaster of the school, Yogesh Mathoo, expressed gratitude to Broomes for accepting the school’s invitation. He stated that he was pleased that she impressed upon the students the importance of being well rounded as it reflects the school’s motto and vision.
“The aim of these activities is to widen the perspective of the students…so I applaud you Minister and by extension the Government, for the effort expended to put plans and initiatives in place and in perspective for youths…any Government that is willing to work with the youths must be commended,” the Deputy was quoted as saying.
Grade 11 student, Master Kumarraji Adrian Narine, in an invited comment, said that he was impressed that Broomes took time to interact with the students. “I think my fellow students were quite pleased myself included, at the interactions with Minister Broomes and Mayor Narine. Everyone’s questions were answered and I think that the Government should continue doing what they are doing by visiting schools and finding out their needs and working together,” he declared.
