World Bank lauds strides in education sector

TIMES INT'L

World Bank Education Sector Manager for Latin America and the Caribbean Region, Dr Chingboon Lee, has lauded Guyana’s commitment to improving the standard of education delivery.

The top World Bank official, who was at the time speaking at the recent launch of the Guyana Improving Teacher Education Project at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE), said the government’s heavy investment in the education sector is an investment in young people.

This, Dr Lee said, is an indication that the government has been “walking the talk”. Lee said that the children are the future of the country, and teachers have an important role to play in helping them to realise their full potential.

The education expert also commended CPCE and the University of Guyana (UG) for joining forces to address areas of weakness in the teacher education programme. The programme zeros in on improving the learning achievement of students by advancing the quality and delivery of teacher education, placing strong focus on more effective performance of teacher educators and student teachers.

In general, it transforms the delivery of teacher education in Guyana to better cater for the needs of teachers and to meet the standard of an education system in the 21st century. The reform programme also provides support to improve the quality and implementation of the practicum for the Associate Degree in Education (ADE) and Bachelors’ Degree in Education programmes; the design and implementation of an induction year for all ADE graduates; the integration of information and communication technology in the teaching and learning process; the smooth transition of dual mode delivery of initial teacher education programmes; and the improvement of library access and resources.

Dr Lee called on teachers to pay due attention to inculcate in students, the key concepts in literacy and numeracy, pointing out that this is the foundation that will prepare them for higher academic learning. Lee stressed too that the local education system needs inspirational teachers to bring out the best in students and appealed for the best young minds to join the noble profession.

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