Guyanese-born University of Toronto Professor Rita Persaud has donated $18 million in musical and science equipment to five secondary schools and the University of Guyana.
The Education Ministry on Saturday said that tapping into her network in Canada where she lives, Professor Persaud was able to procure drum sets, violins, saxophones, microscopes, telescopes among other equipment. The items are valued at $18M and will be donated to Berbice High School (BHS), J.C Chandisingh secondary, Abrams Zuil secondary, Anna Regina Multilateral, Cotton Field secondary and the University of Guyana.
Professor Persaud is quoted by the Education Ministry as saying that the institutions reached out to her at different levels for assistance and she immediately agreed to assist. She pointed out that having intimate knowledge of the importance of music and science in education she purposed to ensure she was able to deliver for the institutions.
According to the Professor, her satisfaction is rooted in the fact that music provides an outlet for students and it builds self-confidence. Further she explained that music also helps with self-esteem and has threptic benefits.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Priya Manickchand expressed her gratitude to Professor Persuad and the other donors who contributed immensely to make the venture a reality for the institutions and students. At the handing over exercise to representatives of the institutions at the Education Ministry Brickdam office on Friday, Permanent Secretary Alfred King said that the donation will improve the delivery of the Fine Arts and sciences in these institutions.
The items received are six complete seven-piece drums sets, one electronic violin, two Saxophones, four Clarinets, one television, 16 microscopes electronic computer interfaced, two (2) measuring scales for laboratory, one Trombone, three Trumpets, six six Violins, one Flute, one printer, two TASCO Telescopes, six Telescopes Celestron Astromaster (for Physics, Science, or Cosmology program), four Chemistry kits, textbooks for the university of guyana library, one laptop and two computer screens.
