Dear Editor,
I have been thinking a lot about the way the world is changing, and how prepared our children really are for it.
When I was growing up, many of us were told that once you worked hard, got an education and found steady work, you could make a decent life. That advice still matters, but the world our children are growing up in is very different from the one many of us knew.
Today, science and technology are touching almost everything. We saw that recently when Guyana was part of a major achievement in robotic surgery, with doctors using technology to connect across thousands of miles. To my mind, that kind of story should make us stop and think about what is possible for this country.
This is why I believe more attention must be paid to STEM education. Not every child will become a scientist, engineer, doctor or computer specialist, and that is fine. But every child should at least get the chance to understand these areas, try them out, and see where their talents may be.
I also read about the US$100 million STEM initiative being supported by ExxonMobil, and I believe it is something worth recognizing. If it helps train teachers, improve hands-on learning and give students in different parts of Guyana better access to these subjects, then it can make a real difference.
For me, the most important part is not the big figure attached to the program. It is what it could mean for children from ordinary families. A child in Georgetown, Berbice, Essequibo or a hinterland community should not be left behind simply because they did not have access to the right tools, teachers or encouragement.
We talk a lot about oil money, production and revenues. Those things are important, but Guyana’s future cannot depend on oil alone. It must also depend on people who are trained, confident and ready to work in a modern economy.
That is why investments in education should matter to all of us. When a young person learns coding, science, engineering or technology, we may not see the benefit right away. But ten or fifteen years from now, that same young person could be solving problems in health, agriculture, construction, energy or business.
I am not saying one program will fix everything. Education still needs serious attention across the country. But when support is being given to help young people prepare for the future, we should recognise it and encourage more of it.
To my mind, investing in children is one of the surest ways of investing in Guyana itself.
Sincerely,
Greg Lynch
