Civics – The Citizenship Initiative was founded on the premise of political empowerment via civic education.  This has to begin in the school system starting with social studies at the primary level and a comprehensive civics education at the secondary level with a curriculum dealing with issues like the social contract; the constitution; fundamental rights and freedom; the arms of government; ethics and political practice; and corruption and public accountability.

Violence in Schools – in recent years, Guyana has seen a significant upsurge in violence in schools, ranging from teacher on student violence, to student on student violence, to parent on teacher violence.  What needs to be put in place is a zero tolerance policy to curb this phenomenon.  We propose a menu of measures that include:

1. The immediate removal of corporal punishment as a disciplinary measure in all schools in Guyana. There is no justification for violence against children and every instance of abuse is a reason to abolish this practice.
2. Suspension for any student involved in any violent altercation while wearing a school uniform, in possession of a school uniform within an hour of school time, or within 300 metres of the school they attend.
3. Special aggravated assault charges for anyone who assaults a teacher or enters a school premises with the intention of assaulting a teacher. This includes any action committed within 300 metres of school property.

Sexual and Reproductive Health – currently, the primary focus in Guyana is on what is called Health and Family Life Education (HFLE).  The current curriculum in HFLE has glaring gaps even for what it identifies as Comprehensive Sexual Education – for example, the Grades 10 and 11 syllabus does not speak to the issue of sexual predation by persons of trust, even though teacher predation remains a prevalent but underreported phenomenon in Guyana.  We propose to work with NGOs in creating a comprehensive sexual and reproductive health curriculum to be taught at the secondary level with an emphasis on healthy and safe practices, issues of gender and sexuality, and a primer on the sexual offences act and how it applies to the school environment.

Environmental Studies and Practices – even though a great deal of rhetoric has been placed on green strategies for development, no strategy addresses the need for incorporation of the green agenda into the school system.  What we are proposing is the development of a national environmental studies curriculum, partnered with practical engagement by students on environmental sustainability best practices.  We envision the creation of eco-friendly satellite schools that combine theory, in-class and in-field practical experimentation, and a direct connection to green spaces.  The Patentia Secondary School, for example has solar panels (though these feed into the grid and do not service the school directly), and extra-curricular volunteer-run programme on recycling and environmentally friendly, kitchen-garden agro-processing and accessing to an adjacent forested and riverine area.