Govt offering full scholarships to top two CSEC, CAPE students

By Lakhram Bhagirat

The top two students of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) will automatically qualify for scholarships to study in Guyana or abroad, according to President Donald Ramotar.
“… we have also given more scholarships to the students in this country to get higher education in Guyana and abroad, and I have also instructed our colleagues in the Cabinet to see that the top two from CXC (Caribbean Examinations Council) and CAPE are given scholarships automatically, not only in Guyana to study but overseas as well,” Ramotar said while addressing a gathering at the Education Ministry National Award Ceremony for Outstanding Performances.
He said that investment in education is really an investment in the future of the country as it is a key element to fighting poverty, the preparation of youths for the future and for the achievement of developmental goals. “If we are going to achieve the development goals we have set ourselves, then education will have to play a pivotal role in that regard, and it has proved itself already because when you look at developing countries, you will see where there is a high level of education, those are the counties that are doing the best,” he noted.
“… it means that the most important factor for development is not how much gold we have and how much diamonds, we have, those things help of course, but it is the quality of people we have and that is the most important factor for the development of the nation,” he added.

The president also stated that a quality life does not only depend on “filling your stomachs”, but it is also essential to “full your heads”. He noted that although the world has made significant progress in the education sector, there is still room for much improvement. “We still have 775 million people in the world that are illiterate and although the world has made significant progress in educating its population, we still have 61 million children who cannot attend school, so we have to take that into consideration while we celebrate our achievements here,” Ramotar stated.
He urged the students to recognise and understand the sacrifices made by the government and by extension the taxpayers in ensuring that they receive the highest quality of education, and reiterated his belief that education is the key to reduce poverty.
“In the past seven straight years, Guyana has topped the Caribbean at CXC, and we intend to continue with that tradition and it is very significant to look at the spread where the passes are taking place,” he observed.