Minister of Education Sonia Parag on Tuesday met with Ganesh Singh, head of the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities (GCOPD), to discuss the continuation and potential expansion of the Remedial Education programme for persons with special needs.

The programme was initiated as a necessary progression for persons with disabilities who were previously unable to complete their formal schooling. In fact, the first cohort saw seven students move on to sit for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Examination, fully funded by the Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Education.

Minister Parag stated that the programme is a critical component of a wider government push for inclusivity across all sectors and areas of life in Guyana. “As you know, the Government is committed to ensuring that all regions are equipped with Special Education Needs (SEN) centres,” Minister Parag reminded, noting that major improvements in this regard can be expected over the next five years.

Meanwhile, Singh lauded the success of the initiative so far, emphasising the transformative impact it has had on past participants.

The continuation and potential expansion of the remedial programme will ensure that more persons with physical, hearing, vision, and mild intellectual disabilities are given the knowledge and skills to gain meaningful employment, pursue higher education, and access the many opportunities provided by the Government of Guyana.

Also part of the meeting were Chief Education Officer Mr. Saddam Hussain; Assistant Chief Education Officer for Special Education Needs and Disabilities, Dr. Keon Cheong. and Programme Officer of the GCOPD, Ms. Shannon Forsythe.