WITH about 90 per cent of Bartica’s population depending on the mining sector, Mayor Gifford Marshall feels that some residents have lost sight of the importance of education, as well as pursuing other forms of employment.

As such, he told the Pepperpot Magazine that authorities are not very happy with the students’ performance in school.

“The gold mining community would have brought the resources needed. As a result, it served as a distraction to other things like education, and agriculture. But now I believe, more and more persons are realising the need for education,” Marshall observed.

He said the students’ performance in school is an issue on the front burner and that in 2019 and 2020, more investments will be made in the education sector. “And we will target parents, especially, on the importance of keeping their children in school and helping them to understand the importance of performance.”

He added: “When you go after gold mining; if that industry collapses, you don’t have another choice. But when you invest in education, you create opportunities for yourself and choices.”

Marshall said that although persons have drifted away, agriculture will be pursued again because the authorities want residents to go back to farming.
Another challenge in the education sector is that Bartica doesn’t have a tertiary level institution. “To this end, we are working with a number of agencies nationally to have that matter addressed.”

In the meantime, the Bartica Town Council, along with the private sector, has been sponsoring persons to go off and study. “And this is something we want to actively pursue.”

Source: Guyana Chronicle