A total of 123 students graduated from the New Amsterdam Technical
Institute (NATI) on November 21 during its 46th convocation and Prize
Giving Ceremony.
The graduates are now skilled in various areas including agricultural
machinery, electrical installation, internal combustion engines,
mechanical fitting, metal machining, motor vehicle electrical systems,
motor vehicle work, radio and electronics servicing, welding,
bricklaying and masonry and carpentry. Others secured certificates in
plumbing and diplomas in administrative principles and practices,
commerce, and computer science.
British High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn, in his feature
address, urged the students to apply the knowledge and skills they
have acquired during their tenure at the institution, in a manner that
will make them ambassadors for their alma mater.
Valedictorian, Bibi Ali described her two years spent at NATI as
challenging yet inspiring. She acknowledged the guidance and support
of her parents, the administrative staff and friends throughout her
studies.
Principal, Maxine Thompson in her report to the school, disclosed that
123 students wrote the Guyana Technical Education Examination. The
institution recorded a 71 per cent successful pass rate, 27 per cent
being referred and two per cent being unsuccessful. The candidates’
overall performance in 2018 of 71 per cent, is the same as when
compared to 2017.
While overall performance remains the same, it should be noted that
the students’ performance in the Science Department has improved from
zero in 2017 to one hundred per cent in 2018. The Building Department
yielded a 64 per cent success rate in 2018, a 17 per cent increase in
performance when compared to 2017. The Engineering Department achieved
94 per cent success in 2018, two per cent less than in 2017. The
Business Department achieved 26 per cent success in 2018. This is a 50
per cent decrease in performance when compared to 2017’s performance.
Principal Thompson highlighted that the institution recently signed an
agreement becoming a member of the Higher Education Consortium on
Engineering and Mining (HECEM). The consortium, she said, will foster
and promote academic collaboration to explore and develop new
curricula and joint programmes to address the national development
needs in Engineering and the Oil and Gas sector in preparation for oil
production in 2020.
The graduation programme was also enlivened with cultural
presentations performed by current students.
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