By Maryland State University,Miranda La Rose

Copyright stabroeknews

Hamwantie Deokie-Gorakh popularly known as Camille Deokie was between the ages of 16 and 17 when she started giving extra lessons to 12 students in her father’s garage at their home in Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara. That was the seed for Camille’s Academy Inc (CAI) which now boasts four campuses, an enrolment of 1,600 children and 150 teachers and ancillary staff.

This year, CAI is celebrating 25 years as a registered business and 2026 will be 30 years since Deokie-Gorakh, Academic Director and Chief Executive Officer of CAI, entered the education sector.

Now 45, Deokie-Gorakh, who is a member of the World’s School Summit said she was not surprised when she was recently awarded an honorary doctoral degree in education by Maryland State University, USA for her contribution to the local education sector.

“There are so many best practices I have followed in education and in business, so many systems I have put in place. I have seen them work. I have seen the growth of CAI. I feel good that people are today studying and learning how to do what I have been doing for 25 years. Some of the areas CAI has mastered and we are in a position where we are replicating as we continue to expand,” she told Stabroek Weekend in a recent interview.

Deokie-Gorakh, who is at present pursuing a PhD in business management, holds a master’s degree in business administration from the Australian Institute of Business, which she completed through Nations University. She also holds a diploma in international teacher training from Cambridge University which she also completed through Nations University.