Page 02
Thursday November 22, 2012
Kaieteur News
Government to construct $50M Special Needs school Government has approved funding for the construction of the S50.19M Special Needs school which will be housed in the same compound with the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre, located on Carmichael Street, Georgetown. This disclosure was made by Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, during one of his weekly media briefings yesterday. The Special Needs building will cater for at least 60 disabled students. It will replace the three small and clustered classrooms located at the top flat of the Ptolemy Reid rehabilitation centre and will continue to provide rehabilitative services for children who suffer from residual paralysis. The project is funded by the Government through the Ministry of Education. Yesterday, Kaieteur News was told that the three c l a s s r o o m s N u r s e r y, Preparatory and Primary, have a population of 40 students. According to the school's head master, Anand Mangru,
The proposed new Special Needs school the current space in the classrooms is very small. He added that it is difficult for students to reach to the top flat of the building daily. “Our students are heavily disabled; some cannot walk, and they have to be lifted. We have a ramp but some of the students with wheelchairs cannot wheel themselves up so we have had to hire a porter. Sometimes when the porter is busy it is difficult for the children to reach their relevant classrooms,”
Mangru said. The school head added that the new school will be more spacious, airy and will be built flat so that the students wouldn't have a difficult and uncomfortable time while they are in class. “We will also construct the building in a way where the walls which will divide the classes can move so that when we have any event we will move the walls and have one big hall,” Mangru stated. In addition to the space, there will be a new
classroom to accommodate a computer room which will
enable the students to learn a little more about the various
forms of advancement in society.
Cricket legend urges UGBC graduates to have positive attitudes in life ...Prof Samad misses convocation
From left, Dean of Health Sciences, Dr E. Cummings; Pro Chancellor, Dr Prem Misir; Bursar, Mr John Seeram; Acting UGBC Director, Mr P. Da Silva and Registrar, Mr Vincent Alexander. In background is Dr Paloma Mohamed Some 180 students graduated from various fields over the weekend at the University of Guyana Berbice Campus (UGBC) at Port Mourant, Corentyne. The new graduates were conferred with their Certificates, Diplomas, Associate Degrees and Degrees. In the Natural Sciences Faculty, 30 students graduated; Social Sciences Faculty, 58; and Education and Humanities, 73. Guyanese cricket legend, Clive Lloyd, delivered the feature address at the ceremony. He talked about what a good leader is and does. His address was filled with encouragement and examined life with a more positive attitude. He noted that leaders are expected to empower others, “and that elders do not create followers; they create more leaders”. He noted, too, that
“whatever roads lead you down; you can change directions anytime. Map out your future, but do it intensely”. He reminded the convocation about Steve Jobs “who wandered many times before finding his calling”. Mr Lloyd also urged the graduates to know their goals and to stay focused. “Courageous leaders experience as much fear as others.” He urged them not to give up because of those fears. “Say 'yes' more often to new challenges; you never know where they may lead…Assume responsibility, take ownership of what happens to you and how you respond to it.” “Steve Jobs, Mark Zukerberg, Bob Gates all agreed on one thing: persistence flies to the heart of success and never give up.”
Muniram Purnwasi, the Valedictorian, received the Highest Grade Point Average. He was awarded with the Republic Bank award for Best Graduating Student. A school teacher by profession, he completed his Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics. Shinella Avis Gamble was the Second Best Graduating Student and received the Scotia Bank Award. Also receiving prizes and awards were Yulette Moretta Park, Moira Thomas, Seema Singh, Azad Hoosein, Dascia Johnson, Jennifer Freso, Rehanna Sammy, Pamela Mootoo, Sarah Khemraj, Chandradeo Ghansham, Janelle Williams, Treshan Budhram, Maorai Sawh, Desmond Kursattie, Tejwattie Singh, Michelle Amsterdam, Pulmattie Rabinchand and D a v e Sarran.