Uniform programme benefits 30,000 hinterland students

Dear Editor,

I was a bit disappointed at first when the news about the distribution of school uniform was announced and schools on the coastland were alerted, because I thought there was nothing for the school children in the Amerindian villages. However, I was proven wrong, because I was advised later that hinterland communities in Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine would also be getting their share of school uniforms for free distribution.

I see that the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs is busy with the uniform packages for dispatch and distribution to the 30,000 school children attending about 280 schools at the nursery, primary and secondary levels. I am also happy that the uniform package for hinterland communities, worth some Gy$63 million, is being worked upon to be dispatched to the various hinterland locations.

This is indeed a kind gesture by the government of Guyana, and by extension the Ministry of Education, to provide uniforms to school children throughout the country. I understand this is one of the interventions by the ministry to encourage children to attend school.

I also noticed that, for the hinterland communities, the government is supplying all sewing materials, including thread, scissors and needles along with the raw cloth, which will be delivered to women’s groups in each village. I think this is an excellent idea, as it will allow the women in the communities to sew the uniforms and receive a stipend of $ 300 for each one sewn.

We are a poor people living in the deep hinterland, and survival has always been our number one priority. We are indeed very thankful to the government for understanding the economic circumstances of the Amerindian people and helping us with the uniforms for our school children. We would all like to see progress in our communities, and this help will take us a very far way in educating our children so that they would be better able to find de cent jobs.

I should also say we are proud that today there are Amerindians in the security forces and in the health and education sectors. To cream it off, Editor, if I am not wrong, we also have two Amerindian ministers in the government. Although we have our cultural traditions, we have the ability to readily adapt to the surroundings and cultures outside our communities and join mainstream society in the task of nation building for the benefit of all Guyanese.

Once again, I wish to express thanks to the government for being so generous to us in the distribution of school uniforms.

Yours,

Ignatius Gibson