Tomorrow, Monday, September 05, the doors of the nursery, primary and secondary schools across Guyana will be opened, as teachers commence another year of moulding the minds of our nation’s children.
As is customary, the new school year begins in September, which is designated Education Month, and the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) is extremely heartened by the efforts and strategies being implemented to ensure that the local education system is responsive to the prevailing needs of our country.
The theme chosen for this year, “Transforming Education”, is indeed what is required to maintain the congruence between the education provided, the expectations of learners, and the expertise required for proficiency in the workplace. This transformation, which also must consider the mode of education delivery and the prevailing challenges in our society, should enable our future leaders to function effectively to foster our national development.
In addition to the formal education provided in schools (nursery to tertiary), the development of our country demands the awareness and understanding of the principles of Standardisation for the effective implementation of basic requirements and best practices within the various sectors. The GNBS has been very supportive of the Ministry of Education, and the public and private sectors in providing standards-related education.
At the primary level, the Bureau has been hosting the biannual Standards in Academia Quiz Competition collaboratively with the Ministry of Education (MOE) for schools across the administrative regions of Guyana. The competition provides pupils at the primary level (as well as their teachers) the opportunity to become educated on the concepts of standards and quality, and how they are applied to our daily lives. This year’s competition involved twenty schools and concluded in June.
Meanwhile, schools and other learning institutions at the secondary and tertiary levels continue to benefit from lectures facilitated by the Bureau. These lectures are primarily held for secondary students in grades 10 and 11 and for those in technical institutes. During these sessions, students are educated on standards; how they are applied; and how standards are beneficial in streamlining organisations and businesses to produce and provide quality goods and services to consumers locally and for export.
Additionally, students are educated on measurement standards, measurement verification in commerce and the calibration of measuring instruments for industry. Further, information is shared on career opportunities in standardisation, the use of the international system of units (metric units) and aspects of consumerism including their rights and responsibilities as consumers.
By engaging our younger population in schools who are our future businessmen and women, active consumers, and leaders in society on Standardisation, the GNBS is actively providing knowledge to support their future career endeavours. These engagements will continue during the new school year and beyond.
Finally, providing formal and informal education develops knowledge and critical thinking, which are also vital for logical decision-making in business organisations. Outside the formal school system, the GNBS, through its cadre of professionals, conducts training on an array of national and international standards for individuals and companies to aid their certification and demonstrate conformance to requirements.
For further information, please contact the GNBS on telephone numbers: 219-0069, 219-0065, 219-0062, or visit the GNBS Website: www. gnbsgy.org.
