Guyana Learning Channel’s satellite agreement with TVG is the best deal – “TVG saved the day”

– “An apology is owed to Dr Ramroop and his company”

– Manickchand

By Whitney Persaud –

Education Minister Priya Manickchand has dismissed misleading reports carried by some sections of the media about the establishment and operations of the Guyana Learning Channel.
Minister Manickchand and other officials from the Education Ministry and the Guyana Learning Channel met with media operatives on Wednesday and sought to bring clarity to a recent malicious report carried in the Kaieteur News.
The misrepresenting article said that former President Bharrat Jagdeo, because of his friendship, contracted Television Guyana (TVG), owned by his best friend Dr Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, to air the Guyana Learning Channel for a hefty sum of Gy$ 3.6 million monthly.

It was recalled too that in the said article, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU’s) Member of Parliament (MP) Joe Harmon said this is a clear indication that Dr Ramroop was privy to government’s plan to establish the learning channel, and as such, made the necessary investments in the relevant technologies to air it via satellite.
During the press conference, the minister stressed that at no time was a contract entered into by the government with Television Guyana, Channel 28 based on a friendship or personal interest between the two.
She stated that government is concerned that some sections of the media continue to spread rumours and misleading information about the establishment of the ministry’s learning channel.
Minister Manickchand said she believes that this is a mistake on the part of some media houses and urged that necessary clarifications be sought before publication.
To this end, Manickchand said the responsibilities of the media are to be based on facts and truthfulness.
Manickchand lashed out at the Kaieteur News for deliberately misleading the public with ‘twisted half truths’ aimed at satisfying its own personal agenda against TVG and its principals. She further said that no media personnel should practice this regardless of who the editors and owners of the media entity are.
The minister called on members of certain sections of the media to desist from  oliticizing  and  oliticizing every issue in the spotlight.
She further clarified that the relationship between TVG and the learning channel was important and necessary if the Education Ministry and the government by extension were to provide the country with the services of the learning channel.
She noted that the programmes aired on the channel are part of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/ C) efforts to develop Guyana equitably while helping to prepare the nation’s children for various examinations.
Should be thanked, not scolded
The minister urged that an apology should be issued to TVG, who should be thanked for providing their services to the learning channel.
She maintained that no newspaper or editorial will push the government to desist attempts to boost development in Guyana.
Meanwhile, head of the Guyana Learning Channel Dr Seeta Shah-Roath during the press conference stated that TVG was the only TV station during the birth of the initiative which had the capacity to transmit to several regions and communities throughout Guyana.
Dr Roath explained that despite the hard work of the staff and other parties who contributed to the success of the learning channel which now benefits the country as a whole, there seems to be a deliberate effort to tarnish the image of the station and those involved in making the services possible.
“We continuously receive feedback from students, teachers, and parents alike about how much students continue to benefit from the learning channel… this is in the interest of educating our children, giving students, teachers, and parents access to the kind of educational resources they need to compete in today’s world,” she said.
Dr Roath said it is important to note that there is no other television station in the Caribbean that broadcasts solely educational content. “This seems to be a deliberate effort to tarnish the image of those whom wholeheartedly gave assistance without the thought of financial gain, except of course for salaries in the case of our staff,” Dr Roath stated.
She said teachers have indicated that when different topics are being taught, students want to take the discussions beyond just “information gathering”, but to critical and higher order thinking, mainly because of the stimulation provided by the learning channel.
Dr Roath highlighted that initially she had made a proposal for a satellite television network which could reach all of Guyana, Suriname, Brazil, Venezuela, and in fact anywhere in the western hemisphere.
According to her, the Guyana Learning Channel is funded by the government of Guyana, through the Education Ministry, and the staff is working diligently to keep the channel on air with quality educational content.
She explained that as head of the multimedia unit of NCERD, in 2010 the then Education Minister Shaik Baksh mentioned that plans existed for the setting up of a television channel for educational purposes.
The committee entered into discussions with TVG and a final agreement which concluded in 2010 requires TVG to provide the channel with a guaranteed satellite transport network service.
“This arrangement as stipulated in a legal service contract, and for a recurring cost of Gy$ 3.6 million per month, gives the learning channel guaranteed reception anywhere in Guyana and for that matter South America and the Caribbean, regardless of weather conditions and requires TVG as the satellite service provider to maintain signal quality guarantees,” Dr Roath explained.
According to Dr Roath, the Guyana Learning Channel has 17 sites, including the main office in the compound of NCERD, and 12 employees at the central office, and one in each community in which it has offices.
The channel has over 200,000 viewers and reaches far and wide in Guyana, including areas such as Annai, Lethem, Aishalton, Kwakwani, Port Kaituma and Mahdia.