Investments in hinterland scholarships, bearing fruitful returns

- Norman Whittaker- tells graduating students

Georgetown, GINA, July 6, 2011

The Hinterland Scholarship Programme is a commendable initiative and, the investments by the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Government are bringing good yields, according to Norman Whittaker, Liaison Officer in the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs.

Speaking at the annual hinterland Scholarship graduation, at the Amerindian Village, Sophia this evening, he said that Government is committed to ensuring that every child receives primary, secondary and tertiary education and that “the delivery of quality is being regarded useful and applicable for future development of Guyana”.

Hinterland Scholarship Students Delilah Roth from Monkey Mountain, Region 8, collecting her certificate from Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Amerindian Affairs Collin Croal.

Sixty-eight students who hail from across all the Administrative regions with the exception of Five and Eight graduated at this evening’s function.

“We educate you not only for today but for tomorrow, having regards also to government’s determination to ensure that there is equity and in terms of access to quality education in respective to ethnicity, geographical location, cost and culture,” Whittaker said.

He also informed the graduates that Government’s budgetary allocations to the education sector continue to increase annually, moving from $1.7B in 1992 to $24.3B in 2011.

“These allocations have not only been used to improve teaching and learning environment but have also been providing the type of infrastructure and utilities to support and improve school environments for both teachers and students,” Whittaker said.

Testimony of these improvements, he said lies in construction of the recently commissioned dormitory at Liliendaal for the Hinterland Scholarship Students and several newly built schools.

He also said over 90 percent of the teachers in schools in hinterland regions are from their local communities.

“We have moved from that stage where less that 40 percent of hinterland students could have accessed primary education to 100 percent now having access,” Whittaker informed.

Norman Whittaker, Liaison Officer Ministry of Amerindian Affairs addressing the gathering, Amerindian Village Sophia.

“You have come too far to turn back so take the next step into the future …for the Government you graduating students represent a huge investment on which we have only now begun to reap the returns….you are human capital to be harnessed, nurtured and be employed in the many viable areas of development for which there is great need in our country.”

Whittaker also noted that over 50 percent of the hinterland students completing primary education can now have access to secondary and tertiary education under the PPP/C Government.

In further supporting the parents in the hinterland to afford their off springs an education, Whittaker said that the administration embarked on several initiatives including the school uniform and feeding programmes which have been allocated huge sums in the National Budgets for their continuation.

“We will continue to enhance our education system so that not only you but, your brothers and sisters can benefit from a more modernized education system, offering new learning opportunities,” Whittaker said.

The recently launched US$1M education leaning channel and the One Laptop Per Family Programme, he said are just a few of many more good initiatives to come.

He also urged the graduates to help Government in its efforts to raise the level of literacy within their respective communities since it is a “prerequisite for a developing country like ours to move out of poverty”.