The Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) has received a US$25,000 Grant from the Chinese Government to improve the Science Laboratory and Information Technology Department at the training college.
The grant was realized by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on Wednesday, November 23, by Permanent Secretary at the Education Ministry, Vibert Welch and Charge d’Affaires at the Chinese Embassy, Chenqu Yang at the Ministry’s 26 Brickdam Office, Georgetown.
Principal of the training college, Viola Rowe disclosed that the institution currently has 22 trainee teachers who are specialised in the Science field. However, she feels it is the condition of the laboratory that has deterred more persons from furthering their studies in that area, thereby limiting the number of Science teachers in the schools. As such, she said the grant will be a major boost to the CPCE.
“Over the past five years, we struggled somewhat with finding resources, chemicals, for the effective delivery of the Science programme,” Rowe said.
She explained however that some improvements were made this year with the $2M received from the Head of State in December 2016 and May 2017, but that was still not sufficient.
Items to be purchased for the Science laboratory include a list of Chemicals, Cell structure resource pack, Functional Heart, Gene Kit, Bunsen Burners, Interactive Whiteboards which incorporates Science and Technology and Micro- science Kits among others.
The Principal explained that the Micro -science Kits will serve not only the Turkeyen location of the College but other locations across the country.
“We have a number of Centres spread across Guyana. In fact, we have one teacher training centre providing some programme or the other in every Administrative Region. In order for us to really improve what we’re doing there, the micro-science kits will go a far way because they are individual small labs, portable labs and we are going to be procuring enough for all our teachers to have access,” Rowe explained.
It was pointed out that some of the monies will also be diverted to research.
The Ministry’s Permanent Secretary noted that the initiative looks beyond the teachers to the “nurturing of thousands of young minds in our schools from among which Guyana will have its future scientist, engineers, technologist, and technicians.”
Meanwhile, Charge d’Affairs, Chinese Embassy, acknowledged the long-standing bilateral relationship between Guyana and China, especially in the area of education.
Yang explained that the implementation process will be monitored by the Chinese Embassy and the Ministry of Education.
The grant will be subject to review for any purpose at any time as agreed to by the parties and may possibly see a phase II.
