BY: ROBERT FRASER RN BS
“An investment in education can fuel the Caribbean’s growth.”
Lilia Burunciuc,
World Bank Director for Caribbean Countries.
“Literacy- The basic building block for nationhood.”
Ian McDonald
It is with great interest and enthusiasm I welcome the introduction of the GED program in Guyana. The youths, who satisfy the criteria for admission into the GED program will be rescued from the dangerous path many were traversing. Being armed with the GED diploma, one will be able to climb the ladder of upward mobility.
CRITIERIA FOR ENTRY INTO THE GED PROGRAMME
The GED program will be targeting applicants who were unable to write or did not attain passes in five subjects at CXC/CSEC examinations, including Mathematics and English Language.
HISTORY OF THE GED
The GED stands for General Educational Development. The GED is commonly referred to as the “High School Equivalency” test, because passing scores on all the test sections are usually accepted as equal to a high school diploma (USA). The GED test was developed in 1942 as a way to educate military veterans returning from World War II. It soon became the primary way adults who had not finished high school could go to college or get a good job.
THE GED TEST
In addition to the course work of the GED, developing strong reading and thinking skills will be the key to success on the GED test. The test was revised in 1978, 1988, 2002, and 2014. The 2014 version of the GED test was a major departure from the 2002 and earlier versions. Some key differences are there is no paper-and-pencil version of the test. Only a computer version is available.
There are four test sections:
1) Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA)
2) Social Studies
3) Science
4) Mathematical Reasoning
The RLA test has one extended-response question (essay), Multiple -choice questions have four answer options.
BENEFITS OF THE GED DIPLOMA IN GUYANA
1) The GED Diploma is equivalent to the CXC (5 Subjects)
2) The GED Diploma is equivalent to the USA high school diploma
3) Being armed with the GED Diploma, one will be able to matriculate to four (4) year Bachelor’s degree programme at Texila University, Guyana or any other university that accepts GED Qualification.
4) It is hoped that the Personal Care Assistants (PCA) and Nursing Assistants (N/A) with the GED Diploma will be accepted in advance training (Registered Nurse (RN), and Midwifery).
I have every confidence that, the GED Diploma program, if properly implemented and competently administered, will offer disadvantaged communities in Guyana, opportunities to attain educational qualifications of the highest caliber. Graduates will be equipped with the knowledge, skills and core competencies that are prerequisites for success in a fiercely competitive job market. Inequalities in income will be significantly reduced.
I am appealing to the Education administrators to identify those who satisfy the criteria for the GED Program and give advice and guidance accordingly. Please be reminded that “A mind is a terrible thing to waste and a good thing to invest in.”
I close with a great thought that I used to recite in Primary School “There are four things that come not back- The spoken word, The Sped Arrow, The Past Life and the neglected opportunity.
Being a GED diploma recipient, should not be viewed as intellectually respectable, but socially relevant.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author)
