Over 1,700 teachers graduated from the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) today, which represents the largest graduating batch in the school’s history.

Four hundred and seventy-seven (477) teachers graduated from CPCE’s Early Childhood Education Programme, 841 from the Primary Education Programme, 238 from the Secondary Academic Programme and 240 from the Secondary Pre-Vocational Programme – a total of 1,796 trained teachers.

Of the graduates, 66 graduated from the Trained Teachers’ Certificate Programme, while the remaining 1,730 graduated from the Associate Degree Programme.

Addressing the graduating class at CPCE’s 89^th Graduation Ceremony at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand said the 2023 class represents a significant increase in trained teachers.

The increase, she said, augurs well for the Education Sector.

“As at the 31st of October, 2023, 13,601 public school teachers existed in the country. As at the 31st of October, 8,941 were trained public school teachers – that’s 65.8% of our teachers in our classrooms are trained. Today, we’re adding 1,796 teachers and we are raising that to 79%. Tomorrow in our classrooms, 79% of our teachers will be trained. And tomorrow, in our classroom, 99% of our teachers standing before desks and benches, occupied with Guyana’s children will be teachers, who are trained or in training,” Minister Manickchand said.

87% of those who graduated today are women.

Minister Manickchand said the trained teachers, the majority of whom graduated with credit, were drawn from various parts of the country. She detailed that more than 20% of the graduates are from the hinterland and riverain communities, while 35% of the teachers are from Region 4, 11% from Region 10, 14% from Region 3, 12% from Regions 2 and 6.

It was further pointed out that of the 238 trainees graduating as Secondary Academic teachers, 78% are English trained, 75% are Math trained, 35% are Science trained, 31% are Social Studies trained and 9% are Spanish trained.

The Education Minister challenged the trained teachers to add value to every child that they come into contact with as they advance their teaching career.

“You get to make a difference and you will get children who are bright, bright, bright, and pass the level they should be at, and you will get children who are three levels below where they should be. You should add value to every single one of them. Whoever comes into your classroom, must leave your classroom a significantly better child academically, socially and in every other way,” Minister Manickchand urged the graduates.

Principal of the Cyril Potter College of Education, Noella Joseph, urged the newly trained teachers to be professional in the execution of their mandate to educate and nurture the nation’s children.

“You have completed the first phase of your path to becoming a professional educator, which is worthy of commendation and celebration. It is however, very important that you exhibit the correct attitudes and qualities for your learners to emulate. Here is where you demonstrate the professional deportment, synonymous with this noble profession,” the principal urged.

Joseph also used the opportunity to applaud the Education Ministry for advancing the sector through continued investment and hard work.

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