A pilot transition education programme targeting children with disabilities concluded on a high note on Wednesday, with three of its participants successfully completing the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), and 41 learners with disabilities completing the one-year programme.
Initiated by the Guyana Council of Organizations for Persons with Disabilities (GCOPD) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and MODEC Guyana Inc., the programme provided students from Special Education Needs Schools in Guyana with additional education support to prepare them for the NGSA exams and other national assessments. Importantly, it allows them to successfully transition into traditional schools.
GCOPD Programme Manager, Ganesh Singh said the programme, which received the financial backing of MODEC Guyana, was conceptualized based on the recognition that learners with disabilities need additional support to transition into traditional schools.
It was explained that while many learners with disabilities have the ability to be mainstreamed, large classrooms and human resource constraints in traditional schools pose a challenge. The transition programme, which was launched in May 2025, is intended to better prepare students for those schools.
The after-school programme targeted children between the ages of 8 to 15, and focused on the four core subjects of Mathematics, Science, English Language and Social Studies.
“The areas that were covered in the programme – the subject areas – were the four core subject areas, Math, Science, Social Studies and English Language. We worked with mainly students who are at the primary level, and we had student that were preparing for the National Grade Six Assessment. We have students who will be taking those Grade Six Assessments in 2027 and we also have some students that are at the Secondary level that will be taking the various national assessments,” Singh explained.
He said while there were a number of challenges, including scheduling conflicts, the programme concluded on a successful note, with students from the David Rose Special Education Needs School, Region 4 Education Department Special Education Needs Resource Center, and the New Amsterdam Special Education Needs School completing the entire programme.
Singh was keen on noting that three of the students from the New Amsterdam Special Education Needs School successfully completed the NGSA exams, and are now preparing for secondary school.
Assistant Chief Education Officer for Special Education Needs, Dr Keon Cheong said the initiative reflects the Education Ministry’s commitment to quality and equitable education.
Noting that the Ministry of Education cannot do it alone, Dr Cheong said partnerships with external organizations and development partners such as GCOPD and MODEC allow the Ministry to extend opportunities and support, and introduce innovative approaches to learners who need it most.
“The support provided through this programme is an excellent example of what can happen when partners share a common commitment to improving the lives and educational outcomes of children,” the ACEO-SEN said.
MODEC Guyana Inc Country Manager, Rafael Fumis said the programme aligns with the company’s commitment to providing support to the people of Guyana, adding that it strongly believes children will flourish when they receive the necessary support.
“MODEC supported this programme because we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow and reach their potential. We also recognize that the path may look different for every child and sometimes, the right support can make all the difference,” Fumis said.
While Wednesday marked the end of the pilot phase, the GCOPD, with the help of its partners, intends to develop and expand the transition programme to meet the needs of learners with disabilities across the country.
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