This letter is a response to an article written by Vishani Ragobeer and published in The Guyana Chronicle on 4 June 2023. To hear this letter read in Patamuna, please scroll down.
Dear Ms. Ragobeer,
It gives me great pleasure to respond to the article you wrote about the tragic fire that claimed many lives and traumatized many others. Your comments were particularly intriguing when you discussed your experiences in Karisparu. As a resident of region 8, I can attest that many people have negative perceptions of schools in the interior. Inadequate infrastructure, a shortage of qualified teachers, and a limited range of educational options are just a few of the problems that are thought to increase the likelihood of suffering from their socioeconomic makeup and geographic isolation.
In order to increase access to essential services and foster economic growth, I advise that the government make investments in infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, and sanitation facilities. Public-private partnerships, international aid and other funding sources are viable options for achieving this.
Education departments often focus on luring outsiders to live and work in rural areas instead of recruiting teachers from interior, but this can be improved by training prospective workers in rural areas. Education providers may also consider teaching areas of the curriculum or specialist skills in remote areas by non-qualified staff. Furthermore, technology can be applied to enhance service accessibility in the field of education, where online learning platforms can be used to provide access to education.
All for your information,
Thank you.
Nicky Edwin
Listen to the letter read in Patamuna
The Guyanese Languages Unit 