| One hundred and twenty- nine (129) students graduated with technical and mechanicalThe NATI graduating class of 2014skills when the New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI) held its 42nd Convocation Ceremony on the institution’s tarmac, Garrison Road, New Amsterdam yesterday.Receiving prizes and trophies yesterday were Joseph Clements, Kevin Pellew, Lindsay Rigby, Graheme Ramsaran, Shanice White, Esree Bisnauth, Aminah Fraser, Ammedela Forsythe, Hemraj Singh, Chandradat Sewpersaud, Nicholas Henry, Nickel Carteron, Vivian Fredericks, Davendra Samaroo, Rahul Madramootoo, Mark Clements, Stephen Munisar, Adrian Bess, Crystal Cummings, Shoma Hemchand, Hakeem Hinds, Shoab Shalim and Omadat Ali, among others. Ms. Shanice White was the Valedictorian.Among the disciplines they mastered were bricklaying and concreting; carpentry and joinery; plumbing; Administrative principles and practice; computer science; commerce; electrical installation; radio and electronics servicing; agricultural machinery; internal combustion engines; metal and mechanical fitting; motor vehicle electrical systems; and welding.Principal of NATI, Mrs. Maxene Thompson, in her report, pleaded for a Guidance Counselor at the institution to deal with the myriad problems of indiscipline at the school which she named. Physical assault, theft, alcohol and drug abuse, and adolescent issues were the major issues.She said that the academic staff at the institution is “faced with the dilemma of addressing such problems” and that too much time is spent dealing with such.She also requested that lecturers be trained in psychology for adolescence at the facility so that they can be better equipped with the necessary skills. Employees are now benefitting from internet access, she said. It is hoped that there will be full integration of internet facilities shortly.In this year’s exams, the Principal stated that 25 per cent of students were referred while 13 per cent were unsuccessful. At the beginning of the Academic Year, 625 persons applied for studies. Some 540 were eligible and 509 accepted.An alumni body was formed in Brampton, Canada, she added, members of which visited the institution last October. They are hoping to carry out a number of projects at the facility. A website for the institution was also created.The television programme, ‘NATI in Perspective’ also airs on a monthly basis, to inform the public about the school’s programmes and plans. Speaking about home-school- community collaboration,Cheap Jerseys, an Open Day was held earlier this year.The Guest Speaker’s address was delivered by Demerara Distillers Limited Training Manager, Mr. Floyd Scott. Other attendees included Mr. Vishwa Persaud, Deputy Principal, and Mr. Peter Benny, Human Resources Manager of Guyana Goldfields Inc., who delivered the charge to the graduating class. |
