Opposition Leader Brigadier David Granger has called for an immediate, independent investigation into the administration of hinterland secondary schools, especially those with dormitories, saying that drug abuse at almost all of the institutions is prevalent.
However, in a sharp response, Education Minister, Priya Manickchand said government has undertaken a full review of all hinterlands schools long before, Granger has been aroused. Granger’s call came in the wake of re cent reports of misconduct by teachers and students and of “dangerous mismanagement by the Ministry of Education,” a statement issued by the A partnership For National Unity (APNU) said.
Granger pointed out that severe and chronic administrative problems have hampered education of the students in many regions. About 2,500 students currently live in state- run dormitories throughout the country-from Hosororo in the Barima-Waini region to Aishalton in the Rupununi region.
According to him, there has been scant remedial action on the problems over the years, and there seems to have been no significant improvement in the management of the dormitories.
Parents from Ituni this week staged a protest over the poor conditions at the Kwakwani and Linden Foundation secondary schools’ hostels that house their children who, they said, have been victims of physical violence and sexual abuse.
A teenager, in one case, returned pregnant to her home community. This week, also, members of the Parent Teacher Association and residents of Port Kaituma protested against the “deplorable” conditions at the community primary school”, calling on the administration to repair the unsatisfactory toilets in the compound.
Brigadier Granger warned that, as the 10th Parliament starts it’s work after 19 years of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration, the opposition will have no tolerance for the sloppy management of the nation’s hinterland schools.
He insisted that the time has come to improve the conditions in hinterland schools in order to protect the nation’s children from abuse.
Meanwhile, in a state ment, Manickchand said she welcomed what appears to be his new found interest in hinterland students. She said it is interesting that at the same time that the Education, Amerindian Affairs and Local Government ministries are embarking on a detailed ex amination of the status of hinterland secondary schools with particular focus on the provision of services at, and the expansion of dorms for Guyana’s children that Granger’s concern would be aroused.
She noted that the Chief Education Officer, Olato Sam leading a team of officials from the Education Ministry, is currently at the St Ignatius dorm school in Region Nine to deliver more education materials to students there, and to examine ways to improve the delivery of education there at.
This is one week after the chief education officer visit ed the Santa Rosa Secondary School in Region One to conduct a similar exercise. The ministry plans to visit the dorm school at Paramakatoi next week.
“While Mr. Granger’s interest may be late and even to a reasonable person may appear to be motivated by political opportunism, his interest is encouraged. I would urge though that some balance and reality be attached to statements made about our children and that we desist from politicking with our young and innocent student population,” Manickchand said.
“Because of an interest in treating our hinterland children equally and because of conscious and focused policies and programmes to provide education, in the hinterland, we now have the largest numbers in the history of our country writing CXC and an unprecedented number of passes at that exam from our hinterland sons and daughters.
St Ignatius is just one example of the success of hinterland education. The enrollment and exam results are evidence of success of the government’s efforts.” She added that a new school is just about to be opened in Sand Creek and more interventions in hinterland education are being undertaken. Additionally, she said, the percentage of trained teachers in the hinterland is the highest it has ever been in Guyana.
According to the minister, vigorous efforts are being made to increase this percentage even more. “We have, inter alia, last year conducted extensive training with our dorm mothers and fathers and heads of dorm schools even while we continue to expand and upgrade dorm facilities in several regions. These are only a small list of the various interventions being made to ensure we provide opportunities to our young people.
We will bolster and improve our efforts, already we have begun to address the dorm schools,” the minister said.
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