The Education Ministry and the Peace Corps Guyana have signed a seven-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to aid with the Ministry’s mission to provide an education system that delivers quality education and training at all levels.
The signing ceremony was attended by United States of America (USA) Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway, Education Minister Nicolette Henry and the Country Director of the Peace Corps Guyana, Kury Cobham.
In her remarks, the Education Minister stated that she believes that such partnerships will strengthen the collaboration between the two entities and ultimately resulting in good outcomes.
It was also reiterated that the Ministry is grateful for the support which it has received from the Peace Corps in the areas of health, education and the environment. In this way, students from the coastal and hinterland regions will be assisted in their educational development.
“When we come together and forge strong partnerships and collaboration, only good things can happen and in this instance, our common goals and objectives are clearly mapped out in this document. Together through this MoU, we will be able to strengthen the mutual relationship between our agencies,” Henry stated.
Meanwhile, in his address to those in attendance, the US Ambassador asserted that the Peace Corps is here to stay so long as the body is allowed to do so.
“In reality, in about seven years Guyana is going to change hopefully for the better in lots of ways; Peace Corps has been here since 1966. We’re here to stay if we’re welcomed to stay,” Holloway stated.
The placement of these volunteers will ensure maximum impact on the education sector by aiding to build the knowledge of the students in the various regions of Guyana which they were deployed to, while also improving their personal development.
Additionally, the Country Director explained that volunteers will serve as primary literacy promoters where they will work with children from grades one to four, teaching them to read and enhancing their learning environment while supporting parents and caregivers.
On the other hand, health volunteers will be assigned to secondary schools to assist children between the ages of ten to 14 with the skills to adopt healthy behaviours. In relation to the environment, the volunteers are expected to work with primary schools to co-deliver the national science curriculum.
At present, Peace Corps Guyana has 40 volunteers with another 37 to come on board in August and will operate in eight regions of Guyana.
