No major setbacks in schools after unrest – Manickchand

Minister of Education Priya Manickchand on Tuesday acknowledged that there were disruptions to schools following the unrest sparked by the tragic death of 11-year-old Adriana Younge. However, Minister Manickchand assured the public that the ministry has not observed any major setbacks in the delivery of the schools’ curriculum.

“I wouldn’t stand here and tell you that there were no disruptions, there were but we haven’t seen anything to be overly concerned about as far as the delivery of the curriculum goes,” Manickchand told the News Room at the sidelines of an event at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre on Tuesday.

She further noted that education systems around the world experience challenges.

“In every country, there are times when there are difficulties in the education system. The management of that system, which includes myself and the officers in the ministry, must address these issues as they arise. Sometimes, we have to make space for what is happening nationally,” Manickchand explained.

The Education Minister went on to explain that low attendance in schools last week could also be attributed to the start of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) assessments and completion of the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA).

“This week we have CXC going on, we just finished NGSA. So you are not going to ever see post-NGSA, a full grade six attendance, you are not going to see during CXC, everybody writing CXC at school every day.

“Some of you who visited schools and saw depleted numbers may not have realised that those are children who are home on study leave, like half the school, or there are children who just generally don’t come after grade six,” Manickchand stated.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Police Force reported last Tuesday that the situation across the country had returned to normal. The death of Adriana Younge had sparked widespread protests.

More than 100 individuals were arrested and subsequently charged with various offences, including armed robbery and acts of terrorism.