One morning in September 1978, a young man from England was seated at the back of the hall at the Lilian Dewar Teacher Training College, in the building that now houses the National Centre for Education Research and Development (NCERD).He was seated amongst a group of young students who had just enrolled in the teacher training programme. One of the girls smiled at the young man and asked why he had come all the way from the UK to study at the College. The man replied that he was there to teach Psychology.That was the beginning of a 30-year journey in Guyana for Brian O’Toole. He taught Psychology at the College for three years, and visited hundreds of schools throughout the length and breadth of Guyana in the process.He had recently qualified as an Educational Psychologist in Scotland, and had moved to Guyana, along with his bride of two weeks, to be of service to the Baha’i community in this country.The Baha’i Faith has no clergy, and if persons wish, they may leave their homes and find employment overseas to offer assistance to the local Baha’i community.The 70’s and early 80’s were challenging days. Basic food items were unobtainable; people were being `retrenched’; very many persons left for the USA, Canada, and wherever they felt they could see a brighter future.There was considerable instability. Many of their neighbours were robbed. And yet there were rich days at the training college. Many friendships were formed.Over the weekends, the O’Tooles stayed in the homes of students from one end of the country to the other, and in the process developed a deep love for the country and its people.In 1981, Brian O’Toole presented a proposal to the University of Guyana to introduce the first training programme for teachers of children with special needs.He secured funding from CIDA for the Certificate in Special Education, and over the course of the next nine years, more than 120 persons applied for places on the course each year.By this time Brian O’Toole had started his studies for his PhD through the University of London. He registered to do the PhD by Distance, and over the following three years he developed `Hopeful Steps’, the Guyana community-based rehabilitation (CBR) programme.This programme entailed training persons in rural communities in ways in which they could improve the lives of children with disabilities. He worked on the programme, along with Geraldine Maison-Halls, for the next 12 years. In the process, more than 25 articles were published in international journals on the CBR programme in Guyana.UNESCO commissioned Dr O’Toole to write a manual on CBR, which was subsequently translated into Spanish, French and Arabic. In collaboration with Professor Mc Conkey from the University of Ulster,Roger Staubach Cowboys Jersey, a series of video training packages were produced that were sold to programmes in 35 countries throughout the world.When he was defending his doctoral thesis, his examiner said, ‘the work in Guyana is inspirational.’ ic: Students of the School of the NationsThe CBR programme began in Grove, East Bank Demerara, but over the years expanded into East Coast Demerara, West Coast Berbice, East Berbice, Essequibo Coast,Charles Tapper Jersey, the North West District (NWD), and the Rupununi. The programme began by focusing on ways to promote the development of children with disabilities, but over the years other areas were added, including: the promotion of literacy, income generation, disability rights, early stimulation,Dez Bryant Cowboys Jersey, primary health care, and youth issues.But, as the programme grew, so did the concern of the O’Tooles for the education of their own children.Each evening, when they sat down for dinner, the two boys — who were attending one of the ‘leading schools’ in the country — spoke of missing several classes each day, because of the lack of teachers.The frustration grew when they visited the school, only to be told by the Principal, “not to worry, we may get a Maths teacher next year!”At the same time, Dr O’Toole was undertaking a number of short-term consultancies all over the world for UNICEF, UNESCO, PAHO-WHO, and a series of international NGOs.One visit in 1995 took him to Togoland in West Africa. In the dilapidated capital he visited a school run by a young Baha’i couple. That was in April. He returned to Guyana fired by that example, and by July of that year School of Nations was opened. This was the first private secondary school to open its doors in more than a decade. The school now has hundreds of students, representing more than 26 nationalities. It has one of the most prominent Sixth Forms in the country.In addition, more than 200 adults now pursue International Diplomas from Cambridge University. Classes are offered in the evenings at the school.These Diplomas are in the field of Business, Project Management, Psychology, Computers and Teachers and Trainers.Two years ago branches of School of Nations were added in Mainstay Village in Essequibo, and New Amsterdam in Berbice. The school in Essequibo focuses on nursery and prep. classes. The school in New Amsterdam now has almost 200 students from nursery to Sixth Form. These rural schools are established as ‘not-for-profit’ ventures the fees are in the region of $4,000 per month, sometimes less than what parents were paying in ‘lessons’.These schools are an attempt to offer quality education to as wide a cross section of the population as possible.Three years ago,Dan Hampton Jersey, a partnership was signed with the University of London, by which students in Guyana could pursue University of London degrees through tutorial assistance provided by Nations.Nations does not, of course, confer degrees. Instead,Emmitt Smith Cowboys Jersey, it provides tutorial help for the London courses. The University of London has similar arrangements with other educational establishments in 132 countries in the world. There are 32,Tony Dorsett Jersey,000 students pursuing degrees through the external route. The degrees that the students earn by this means are, nevertheless,Maliek Collins Jersey, identical to the degrees they would earn if they physically attended the University of London in UK.Nations University, therefore, offers tutorial help in a series of degree programmes in areas such as: Business, Banking, Finance, Sociology, International Development, International Relations, Law, Accounts, and Management. Entrance to the degree programmes is open to persons with two Advanced Levels (this can be one full AL and two ASs).However, for those who have not completed Sixth Form, London offers the Access Route,Bill Bates Jersey, by which students with five good O’Levels or CSEC passes (including Maths at a minimum of a grade C or grade 3) can do two courses and then, upon successful completion of those two courses, they then proceed directly onto the degree programme.The cost of the entire degree is about $2.4 million (the cost is a little more for Law). This includes all the charges for the three to four years of the degree.Classes are mainly in the evenings, as most students are working people. O’Toole noted that whilst the costs are not ‘cheap,’ they are very much lower than undertaking studies overseas. “Perhaps most importantly for Guyana,Alshon Jeffery Bears Jersey, it offers an opportunity for the brightest of our youth to remain in Guyana for at least three to four more years.”In addition, Nations University has given a written undertaking to the students at the University that they will provide generous scholarships to the students at Nations University once they apply themselves to the courses.Already, more than 55 persons in Guyana are pursuing undergraduate or post graduate degrees through this programme.Thirty years ago, the young man sitting at the back of the Lillian Dewar College, surrounded by giggling school girls, could never had imagined the 30-year journey that lay ahead, or the joys he would experience in his adopted country. |
