Education Ministry and Chinese Embassy partner for youth leadership development award

-11 students to win US$1,000

The Ministry of Education and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Guyana recently launched the Guyana-China Friendship Youth Leadership Development Award, which will see the winners from each of the 11 Education Districts being awarded US$1,000.

The Department of Public Information (DPI) reported that the ministry and the embassy on Friday, March 19, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Friday to launch the award.

Administrator of the Unit of Allied Arts Lorraine Barker-King was reported as saying that the programme will take the form of a competition that will focus on three areas: a community-based project, a critique of a work of art, and the participation in sport activities.

Barker-King added that the competition is open to students in grades eight to 10 who are currently at a secondary school in any of the 11 Education Districts.

However, she noted that during this year, in keeping with the COVID-19 guidelines, each Education District will shortlist eight grade 10 students to participate in the competition because of the three grades, only grade 10 students are physically attending school. Students will be shortlisted based on the following criteria: participation in sports, academic performance, leadership qualities, self-control, sociability and social action and participation in clubs and societies.

Barker-King, DPI noted, said the staff of the Unit of Allied Arts have been assigned the task of executing the competition and promised that it will be done at the standard that is normally exemplified by the Ministry of Education. Each winner from the 11 Education Districts will win US$1,000.

Minister of Education Priya Manickchand, who signed the MoU, noted that the programme will not be centred on any particular region as it will apply to every Education District which includes the ten Administrative Regions and Georgetown.

Chen Xilai, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, who also signed the MoU,

Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, Chen Xilai and the Minister of Education Priya Manickchand pose with the MoU that was signed today

mentioned that it is very important for young people to be given opportunities and that China values education. He said that his country is glad to assist the education sector in Guyana. According to the Chargé d’Affaires, this Leadership Program is an outcome following discussions with the Ministry of Education’s Special Projects Officer, Dr Jacob Opadeyi.

He was quoted as saying, “We hope that this award will inspire the Guyanese students to have a dream and exemplify in their studies; grow up to be future leaders in various fields in Guyana and contribute to national development.”

He said based on the evaluation of this year’s competition, the Embassy will actively consider making the initiative a national annual program.