Compete for education survival or perish --Permanent Secretary Ally Guyana Chronicle February 2, 2001 PERMANENT Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Mr. Hydar Ally, has said that to survive in the challenging globalised world of education, schools will have to "compete or perish". Mr. Ally made these remarks on Wednesday at the Annual School Boards Meeting held at Le Meridien Pegasus. He said Guyanese live in the challenging and exciting age of globalisation which is mainly characterised by intense competition. Since competition is evidently the most important ingredient to face the new and emerging challenges of the global environment, Ally maintained that the mantra is to `compete to survive'. Addressing the gathering of school principals, heads of Education Departments, officials of the Ministry of education and chairmen and members of School Boards, the Permanent Secretary stated that for schools to compete, resources must be optimised and unit costs reduced. This will result in the highest level of efficiency and productivity, he said. It is also necessary to develop a customer-oriented approach in delivering and managing the business sector. This, he said, is applicable to the education sector and all other sectors in Guyana. Since education is increasingly seen as a business enterprise which aims at providing knowledge and skills while instilling positive attitudes and values to young Guyanese, the vision and focus of educators must be to improve the quality and standard of education. According to Coordinator of the School Boards' Secretariat Ms. Norma Younge, the policy makers and Board members have the potential to reduce alienation and stimulate changes in the school system. She said the objective of managing the education process more efficiently and effectively involves promoting a more supportive home, school and community. Ms. Younge explained that community development and partnership are essential components and that schools and school Boards should collaborate with communities in resolving disciplinary problems. The education system today depicts greater progress than there ever was in Guyana, Mr. Ally contended. He added that people have high expectations of the education system and the way their taxes are utilised for the provision of education and goods and services. He said one of the major challenges of the education system is that of raising standards and introducing greater accountability measures, not only in the financial arena, but in the delivery and school based management of the curriculum as well. This aims at making schools more accountable for their performances and enhancing the capacity of institutions to deliver quality and standard education. He declared, "I would like to see the day when the standard would be so evenly distributed across the country that it matters little which school a child attends. The intention is to allow each child equal opportunity and expectation of success, regardless if he/she is placed in Queen's college or a school in Paramakatoi, Region Eight." Given the latest advancement in technology to deliver education via distance communication, Mr. Ally said this is not an impossible dream. The Education Ministry intends to place great emphasis on this aspect of the education system. Emphasising the critical role of the School Boards and Parent Teachers Associations (PTAs) in the provision of quality improvement in the classrooms, Ally noted that there is evidence of increased performance and improvements in schools that have active and highly participatory PTAs and Boards. Ally said the Ministry will continue to offer guidelines in the delivery of quality education and he revealed that with the assistance of a Consultant, the Ministry is currently in the process of developing a long-term strategic plan which will align the education system to meet the challenges of the new global dispensation. The Permanent Secretary commended the members of the School Boards and the School Board Secretariat for their drive in improving and enhancing the quality of education delivery to the young citizens of Guyana. He concluded, "Education is everybody's business. We are all stakeholders in the big enterprise of education development and enhancement. " (Guyana Information Services) Follow the goings-on in Guyana in Guyana Today