PPP congratulates CSEC, CAPE performers

downloadGeorgetown: The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) extends congratulations to all students who have performed credibly at this year Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Examinations, particularly, Ms. Victoria Najab of the Saraswati Vidya Niketan School, who topped the country with 20 Grade Ones.

The party in a public missive stated as followed:

“The PPP would also like to extend congratulations to Cecil Cox of Queens College, who is the top performer in Caribbean Advance Proficiency Examination (CAPE).

These young Guyanese have, by their achievements, reminded that hard work does indeed breed success.”

“The PPP is cognizant that their successes would have been nurtured in many ways by the dedication and hard work of the teachers involved, through the support of their parents and others who may have contributed.

These students, teachers and parents must be infused with a profound sense of satisfaction and pride as a result of their commitment to academic success.

By extension, the PPP believes that all Guyanese share in this pride since such accomplishments translate to success of our country.

The achievements by these young minds present a source of inspiration to all, including those who in the very near future would endeavour to emulate. These accomplishments continue to be a part of what has now become a norm for our students here and across the Region.

Over the years our own sons and daughters have raised the bar of academic achievement here and regionally, setting new standards in the process.

But much of this could not have been achieved, if a conducive environment was not created and the PPP is proud to say it has created that environment.

From the onset, the PPP/C government recognized, that in order for our students to reach their full potential, there must be a complete overhaul of the broken education system that was left by the PNC government prior to 1992.

Over the years, the PPP/C worked tirelessly to ensure the transformation of the education sector and the decentralization of its services, making it not only more accessible, but ensuring an opportunity for every Guyanese child.

Successive PPP/C governments allocated huge portions of the national budget to the education sector.

In 2014, for example, the PPP/C allocated a whopping $32.3B to the education sector.

The PPP during its tenure in office, invested in construction, rehabilitation, extension and maintenance of over 1,000 educational facilities across the country, including a new and expanded Zeeburg Secondary School, Region Three and the Kato Secondary complex, Region Eight, just to name a few.

The PPP/C government took the bold step the decentralization of Technical and Vocational education, with the construction of Technical Institutes in New Amsterdam, Mahaicony, Leonora, and on the Essequibo Coast.

Additionally, under the PPP, Guyana achieved the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of Universal Access to Primary Education and was well on course to achieve Universal Secondary Education.

As a matter of fact, Guyana boasts the highest nursery enrollment in the entire Caribbean.

The PPP is, however, concerned at recent decisions taken by the Granger Administration, which can significantly reverse the gains in the education sector.

In particular, the irrational decision to discontinue the “Because We Care” $10,000 Education cash grant to assist with the transportation of students, the discontinuation of the One Laptop Per Family initiative, which was giving more school-aged children access to ICT.”