Even as the National Vocational Training Centre for Persons with Disabilities celebrates fifteen years of offering skills training to persons with special needs, the centre is working to expand its outreach with the hope ofPupils of Open Doors centre at the Information Technology lab, C ‘Field Sophia,Cheap MLB Jerseys Authentic, Greater Georgetownsuccessfully promoting inclusivity for the disabled.On Tuesday, the Open Doors Centre (ODC) hosted a Dental Health Care day at its central location at the Ministry of Public Health compound ‘C ‘Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown. During the Health Day initiative, students and tutors of the centre were treated to free dental checkup and cleaning from staff of the Cheddi Jagan Dental School.The centre has a number of activities in observation of its 15th anniversary, this month.According to Manager of ODC, Arthur Lewis, the agenda for the month of activities includes an Awareness Walk; sensitising the public on services offered by the centre, an Open Day and Exhibition; a showcase of exhibits from all the courses conducted at the centre, a Culture Day; depicting and celebrating Guyanese culture,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, an Environmental Day; a community project and an Awareness Day with emphasis placed on the electronic and print media.Commenting on their achievements, the Manager noted that several past pupils of Open Doors have moved on to further their studies at higher learning institutions in addition to the world of work, leading quite normal lives.Manager of ODC, Arthur Lewis points to their mission statement.Lewis beamed with satisfaction as he spoke of the students who are now employed by a few notable corporate and government entities following their training at the centre.He said that the ODC accepts students from age 16 and works with them to unlock their potential and possibilities.The Centre caters to 35 students with varying disabilities. He said that the centre currently facilitates persons with hearing impairments,Wholesale China Jerseys, speech disabilities,wholesale jerseys, and the blind as well as those with other issues such as autism.“The students travel from various parts of East Coast Demerara,Wholesale Jerseys China, East Bank Demerara and central Georgetown to access our services …The centre partially assists with transportation and we currently have 14 trained tutors to facilitate their lessons.” he said.The Open Doors Centre offers a number of courses, including electrical installation, carpentry /joinery, garment construction, sign language, small business management and information technology.“The classes have no more than 10 students at a time because the tutors would have to give each student special attention to get the best results.”Speaking about future plans for the institution, Lewis noted that ODC is currently collaborating with the Ministry of Public Health and Ministry of Education to expand its outreach to the various regions of Guyana.“It is our goal to set up satellites in New Amsterdam and Bartica, to offer similar training to persons with special needs.”He said that there have already been consultations with major stakeholders to this end, in regions six and seven.“We will likely commence at New Amsterdam since we have already had consultations and a workshop in there.”The Principal further noted that the main objective of Open Doors Centre is to promote a society of inclusion which will especially benefit persons with disabilities.“It is our mission to build an inclusive society. We are hoping to change the current thinking of Guyanese, and show society that these young men and women have a lot to offer,” he asserted.Lewis added that the organisation is aiming to raise public awareness about the rights and the capacities of persons with disabilities, to improve their quality of life from a social standpoint.“We want to ensure that persons with disabilities achieve and advance in the areas of education, employment and onwards.”The ODC was established under the purview of the Ministry of Public Health to provide on a national level, a wide range of rehabilitation services for persons with impairments and disabilities,NFL Jerseys Authentic China, aimed at enabling them to achieve an optimum level of functioning physically, cognitively, socially and emotionally, thus affording them the means to change their lives towards acquiring a greater level of independence.The Ministry of Public Health assists and supports the work of the centre through its annual budgetary allocations. The centre functions on a budget of approximately $30 million a year.

It took a court ruling for the way to be cleared for the continuance of the process for public school teachers to be granted outstanding promotions. However, they are still anxiously awaiting yet another victory.GTU President, Mark LyteSome have retired, some are close to retirement and others are hoping they do not reach that point before they become eligible for an assured debunching payment.“We need a definite time when this debunching money will be paid; it has been too long,” said President of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), Mark Lyte, yesterday.In stressing that teachers have already waited 10 years,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, Lyte expressed hope that teachers will not have to wait another year before the relevant authority opts to honour the payment.“We will be extremely grateful if it could happen before the end of 2016,” said an optimistic Lyte.Based on a multi-year agreement between the GTU and Ministry of Education under the previous administration, teachers were eligible for the debunching payment.The present Government had given assurance that it would honour the commitment of its predecessor. In fact, Minister of Education Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine,Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic, in response to questions from the media in April, admitted to this development. He disclosed then that discussions with the Union have thus far yielded a commitment on the part of Government to pay teachers the debunching money that the Union had long been advocating for.The discussions between the two sides saw an agreement being arrived at for teachers to be paid one per cent of their respective salaries. But this was months ago.At a press conference in May, Lyte noted that in spite of the fact that the GTU is in receipt of formal correspondence that the debunching money will be paid nothing was forthcoming.“We have received a correspondence from the Minister of Education (Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine) stating that teachers will be paid one per cent (of each month’s salary) commencing 2011 to 2015 as agreed in the multi-year agreement,” said Lyte.The letter in question, according to Lyte, was also forwarded by the Education Minister to Minister of State,Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys China, Joseph Harmon, on April 22, 2016.“We are anxiously awaiting the disbursement of this payment as agreed upon,” Lyte had told media operatives.The GTU President had explained that a teacher who earned $100,Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping,000 in 2011 will be entitled to $12,000 at the end of the year. However, teachers who received a promotion during the five-year period would be eligible for an augmented amount.“All of that would have been taken into consideration to apply this one per cent,” he had related.He asserted that the payable percentage would only be offered to teachers who were active during, or at least part of, the agreed upon period.“Even if a teacher retired in 2012, that teacher will be eligible for a portion of the debunching money; the same one per cent of their monthly salary,” Lyte had stated.Meanwhile, Lyte noted that teachers are yet hopeful since their wait for a ruling into the promotions matter turned out to be favourable.On Thursday, last,Discount NFL Jerseys, Chief Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards handed down the ruling that both the Teaching Service Commission and the Ministry of Education’s Schools Board Secretariat review their preliminary promotions lists.The pending matter had resulted in promotions for public school teachers being stalled since 2015.“Teachers are very elated that the court matter has finally ended and we await the Teaching Service Commission and the Schools Board swiftly moving ahead with all the reviews,” said Lyte, as he noted that “the GTU is aware that both the Commission and the Ministry are in possession of the applications,Wholesale Jerseys From China, so the review should not take more than two weeks.”The GTU President anticipates that teachers’ appointments could take effect by January 2017. “We are excited that the court saw the importance of the review, we are now patiently waiting for the announcement of the appointments. We are patiently awaiting this victory too,” Lyte added.