THE commencement of the Secondary Education Improvement Project is scheduled to begin within the first quarter of 2015 and will put Guyana closer to attaining universal secondary education.This was revealed during a press conference held at the National Centre for Education Resource Development (NCERD) in Kingston. During her remarks, Education Minister, Priya Manickchand explained that the ministry was on track to attain universal secondary education within this new school term, but it seems as though this might not materialise.
“This project is going to help us to get closer to our goal and the PPP/C(People Progressive Party/ Civic) manifesto promises of attaining universal secondary education by this term. That seems to be in jeopardy given that the term looks as if it is going to be cut short,” the Education Minister contended.
Ms. Manickchand explained that two of the main objectives are: strengthening the capacity of secondary school mathematics teachers nationwide, and increasing enrolment in general secondary schools in targeted regions. “This is a US$10M project that is expected to be implemented over the next three years and will officially launch in the first quarter of 2015.”
The Education Minister emphasised during her year-end review that primary schooling in Guyana has achieved the Millennium Development Goal and all children in Guyana have access to primary education. According to Ms. Manickchand, the secondary sector has not yet achieved this goal in every region, it has done so in most, and work continues towards achieving this across the board. “We have achieved universal primary education in Guyana and [are] very close in achieving universal secondary,” [education] she said.
“Capacity- building, evaluation and improving facilities were also focused on under the Guyana Improving Teacher Education Programme. The number of additionally qualified primary teachers and others has exceeded the targets set,” the minister also said.
Under the implementation of the project, approximately 800 secondary- level mathematics teachers nationwide would benefit from in-service training. The minister disclosed that the project’s direct beneficiaries would be 2,600 students each year, from new secondary schools in Regions 3 and 4,providing the schools are built.
The project would also benefit students at eight schools with Technology-assisted Learning in Mathematics pilot programmes In addition, the Education Ministry would benefit from improved capacity in the Education Management and Information System (EMIS).