By Mr. Robert E 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
At the risk of being redundant and in the best interest in the promotion of human development I re-emphasize the importance of the G.E.D program in Guyana.
It is with great interest and enthusiasm I welcome the introduction of the G.E.D programme in Guyana. The youths, who satisfy the criteria for admission into the G.E.D programme will be rescued from the dangerous path they were traversing. Being armed with the G.E.D diploma, one will be able to climb the ladder of upward mobility.
Based on my experience, if one attended school for between seven and eight-point-five (7- 8.5) years, there is a good opportunity for success in the G.E.D program and that there is a good basis for the training of the unskilled
CRITIERIA FOR ENTRY INTO THE GED PROGRAMME
The G.E.D programme 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 G.E.D
The G.E.D stands for General Educational Development. The G.E. D 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 G.E.D 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 G.E.D TEST
In addition to the course work of the G.E.D, developing strong reading and thinking skills will be the key to success on the G.E.D test. The test was revised in 1978, 1988, 2002, and 2014. The 2014 version of the G.E.D 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:
- Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA)
- Social Studies
- Science
- Mathematical Reasoning
The RLA test has one extended-response question (essay), Multiple -choice questions have four answer options.
BENEFITS OF THE G.E.D DIPLOMA IN GUYANA
- The G.E.D Diploma is equivalent to the CXC (5 Subjects)
- The G.E.D Diploma is equivalent to the USA high school diploma
- Being armed with the G.E.D 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 G.E.D Qualification.
- It is hoped that the Personal Care Assistants (PCA) and Nursing Assistants (N/A) with the G.E.D Diploma will be accepted in advance training (Registered Nurse (RN), and Midwifery).
I have every confidence that, the G.E.D Diploma programme, 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 should know. I benefited from the G.E.D program in the USA. Armed with my RN certificate acquired in Guyana, I am a proud holder of the B.S degree that I earned from St. Joseph University, New York, USA.
I am appealing to the Education administrators to identify those who satisfy the criteria for the G.E.D 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 NEGELECTED OPPORTUNITY.
Being a G.E.D diploma recipient should not be viewed as intellectually respectable, but socially relevant.
