A Quiet Revolution: How CPCE’s Online Training is Transforming Region 9

Dear Editor,

There is a quiet but powerful revolution happening in Guyana’s hinterland, particularly in Region 9. At the heart of it is the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) and its pioneering efforts to deliver online teacher training to remote communities. This initiative is changing lives, not only for teachers, but for students and the wider communities they serve.

Before the introduction of online training which Minister Priya Manickchand introduced, many aspiring teachers in Region 9 had to relocate to coastal areas to pursue their education or do without formal training. This presented major financial, cultural, and emotional barriers. For many, it simply wasn’t an option. But thanks to CPCE’s digital shift, particularly accelerated during the pandemic, hundreds of teachers in Region 9 are now earning their certification without leaving their communities.

According to CPCE data from 2023, over 250 student-teachers from Region 9 were actively enrolled in online training programs. This represents a 300% increase from pre-pandemic enrollment levels in the region. Even more encouraging, over 120 student-teachers from Region 9 graduated in 2023 alone, a record for the hinterland.

One such success story is a young mother and aspiring teacher from Sand Creek Village. Prior to the online program, she would have needed to leave her family behind and travel nearly 300 kilometers to the coast. Instead, through her participation in CPCE’s virtual classes, today this young mother was able to study, complete her practicum at the local primary school, and earn her Trained Teacher’s Certificate all while staying rooted in her community. Today, she teaches full-time and mentors younger students considering careers in education.

Another similar story is at Masakenari/Konashen in Deep South Rupununi where a year ago 6 teachers enrolled in the online teacher training program at CPCE online. This is the first time in the history of Education in Guyana that teachers are receiving training in their home community at this location.

Stories like these are not isolated. The online model has empowered teachers in Lethem, Annai, Aishalton, and deep South Rupununi to access high-quality education while staying connected to their cultural identities and supporting their communities. This model has also contributed to lower teacher attrition rates, improved classroom outcomes, and enhanced local trust in the education system.

To be sure, the government is working with villages to ensure that there is reliable internet and digital infrastructure with more than. 160 schools connected to high speed internet in regions 1,7,8 and 9. But the progress to date is a testament to what’s possible with the right vision and sustained investment. As we look toward a more equitable education system. The Ministry of Education and CPCE continue to expand and strengthen this model, so as to ensure no aspiring teacher is left behind because of where they live.

The teachers of Region 9 are proving that quality education is not confined to urban centers; it can and must reach every corner of our country.

Yours truly,
Tamashwar Budhoo EdD
Educator/Farmer