Education ministry embarks on producing Olympians
By Shirwin Campbell
Guyana Chronicle
August 11, 2004
A THREE-YEAR pilot project to produce world famous, educated athletes to represent Guyana at the regional, national and international levels is currently in process in Georgetown.
Chief Education Officer (CEO) Ed Caesar, at a media briefing Thursday last, disclosed that some 90 children between 13 and 15 years old who display potential in sport and drawn from across the regions are attending a camp at the Cyril Potter College of Education, Turkeyen August 2 to 20, 2004.
The camp, which started last week Monday and runs to August 20, has a multifaceted programme called the Ministry of Education August Vocational Physical Education.
The skills of participants will be upgraded in one of several sport disciplines - volleyball, basketball, table tennis, football and cricket.
According to Caesar, there is an academic component focusing on English and Mathematics, while the social aspect addresses communication and all forms of etiquette from posture to cutlery use.
The CEO said that for the next three years the moulding process would continue during the August vacation and between these camps, the progress of participants would be closely monitored so that they maintain what was already imparted into them.
Headteachers, Physical Instructors and several support Associations will monitor the participants.
Caesar pointed out that a database would also be used to monitor the progress.
He lauded the Ministry of Health, United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organisation (WHO) and Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) for their outstanding support in the project.
More organisations are expected to get on board in the very near future.
The education ministry in collaboration with several agencies worked diligently, meeting once a week early this year to make the venture a reality, he said.
According to the CEO, the project is intended to allow young people to become aware of careers available in the sporting world; promote healthy lifestyles; foster team spirit and cooperation; improve the sport skills and develop athletes to international standards, while promoting academic and social intelligence.
He lamented that while Physical Education (PE) was on timetables it was not being taught as the ministry expected, in some schools, and to address this concern the ministry implemented a number of measures including a PE Curriculum Guide, Capacity Building and working through PE Professionals from the Voluntary Service Organisation (VSO).
“We have to ensure that it is so crafted that our young people can be prepared to write the subject at CXC level in 2005,” he reiterated.
Caesar told Chronicle Sport that in the future the project should produce athletes who would proudly represent the nation at Olympics and he thanked parents and guardians for the faith they have displayed by releasing their children into the ministry's care.
Coordinator of the Camp Col. (Ret) Godwin McPherson noted that parents were as happy as their children, and they received a tour of the camping facility and had lunch on the first day of the camp with coaches, teachers, coordinators and the participants.
He outlined a typical day as starting at 05:30 hrs with the first activity being the flag-raising and physical exercise. Breakfast follows and by 09:00 hrs, the work programme is under way with a 10:30 hrs break. Lunch is prompt at 12:00 hrs, then a one-hour rest from 13:00 hrs, after which there is a three-hour practical session. Dinner is at 18:00 hrs, then the academic aspect.
PE Sports Coordinator Arnold Sukraj explained that he was instrumental in creating awareness earlier in the year in the regions through seminars and training for the community leaders and teachers.
He said First Aid training was part of the package for the campers.
English Coordinator Juanita Hunter described the youths as being enthusiastic. She said teaching was not talk and chalk but very practical and designed to make it pleasurable and fun while they learn.
She disclosed that for the academic sessions, participants were placed in different groups based on an assessment and evaluation, and the curriculum was structured to meet their individual needs.
Poetry, films and tours to Banks DIH; Demerara Distillers Limited; LBI Estate and Guyana Zoological Park make up an entertaining and educational package.