The Institute for Distance and Continuing Education (IDCE) is celebrating its 36TH Anniversary.
Students having a look at the IDCE photographic exhibition in New Amsterdam. In this regard, the New Amsterdam centre hosted a photographic exhibition, which was opened to school children and the general public.
The institution, which is an attachment of the University of Guyana (UG), has been functioning in New Amsterdam for a number of years, notwithstanding the many challenges outlined by the Resident Tutor, Ms Janice John during the last graduation ceremony in December.
Established on January 5, 1976, the IDCE is one of the major adult education institutions in Guyana and is a unit of the Faculty of Education of UG.
According to John, in 1983, the Academic Board approved a proposal for the expansion of the department into the Adult and Continuing Education, University of Guyana.
The IDCE is by far one of the leading service institutions that caters for adults, thus in November 1992, it was renamed from the Institute of Adult and Continuing Education to the present name, the Institute of Distance and Continuing education.
“What we try to do is to cater for adults that are out of school, working, those that are unemployed and even school drop- outs. We want to give persons a second chance to achieve what they failed to at the first time. Thus, we find that we offer services in all the different regions.”
There are several IDCE centres across Guyana, including Anna Regina, Linden, Bartica, Corriverton, New Amsterdam and Georgetown, and the East Coast and East Bank of Demerara.
“We’re just exhibiting through photographs some of the things that IDCE offers,” John said.
The New Amsterdam branch has after- school classes in English, a Book Club and an annual Summer School programme for children. The exhibition also highlighted a list of all the courses that the institution offers.