Minister of Education Priya Manickchand has informed contractors in Region Nine that the terms and conditions of the contracts they signed to build schools must be strictly adhered to. In what must be a spinoff from President Irfaan Ali’s recent 5:30 am meeting which saw ministers, their staff, contractors and consultants being warned against delays, Manickchand visited several school construction sites in Region Nine over the past week.

At the site of the Tabatinga Secondary School yesterday, Manickchand expressed her expectations for increased progress, pointing to the importance of timely completion.

Source: https://www.stabroeknews.com/2024/11/25/news/guyana/manickchand-urges-timely-completion-of-region-nine-schools/

The first-of-its-kind, science-based learning school opened on Monday in Guyana. Two years after the St George’s High School was destroyed by a fire, the school was rebuilt and renamed the St George’s School of  Sciences.

Minister of  Education Priya Manickchand on Monday visited the school for its orientation and revealed that only 85 children have been enrolled. She also announced that the school will be “twinned” with Queen’s College, one of Guyana’s top secondary schools.

“We are twinning the schools, they are separate physically but if I took each and every one of your children and put them at Queen’s College, they will come excelling,” the minister said.

She added that this specialised school “will have the specialised support and we have brought in a team of teachers and they too will twin with QC.”

The students attending the new school should have scored at least 80 per cent in English, 65 per cent in Science and 60 per cent in Mathematics to be eligible for the school.

“Those are strong grades, I could take those grades and put them in any disciplined environment and produce doctors and lawyers and scientists,” Minister Manickchand stated.

But whether the children succeed will be up to the teachers and parents, Manickchand noted.

The school is equipped with smart classrooms and laboratories.

There are a set of specific rules that must be enforced and followed for students to continue learning there.

“If you are repeatedly coming late and we can’t help you to come early, we gotta help you to find another school, because you are going to disrupt what we want to do here. If you are repeatedly failing to turn in you work, we can’t throw you out the school system but we will find another school,” Manickchand warned the students and parents present at the orientation.

Once a child is late or absent their parents will immediately get a notification.

Each student on Monday received a laptop computer and starting next week, each child will be provided with breakfast.

“I want them to learn differently, I don’t want them to sit down whole half day and copy notes, I want the notes to be sent to their device so that they could read it the night before so when we come into class, we are discussing it,” Minister Manickchand highlighted.

Children who needs assistance will also be asked to come in to the school on Saturdays or stay back extra hours

“I would like to see each child go through this school and I am speaking to teachers without lessons, because it happened in the classroom,” Manickchand said while adding that tutoring can be implemented.

To combat having children attend extra lessons, a special schedule will be implemented at the school. This Manickchand explained will see some days using a 8:00 hrs to 16:00 hrs schedule instead of 09:00 hrs to 15:00 hrs.

“The reason we wanted the 8AM to 4PM is because if your child has extra needs, with particular topics, that we gotta hit that out now not wait till we reach fifth form. We gotta put in the extra time, but the school cannot drop that on you it has to be scheduled.”

Manickchand also said each child must be exposed to at least one musical instrument, a sport, one foreign language and one TVET subject along with volunteering opportunities.

“Those are the things that make for a resume that Harvard wants, that UWI wants it is not just 20 subjects, it’s all those other things,” the  education minister said.

Meanwhile, the school’s Head teacher, Kevin Williamson encouraged parents to get to know the curriculum to know how to guide their children and get to know the teachers and work together to develop their child.

“As we journey together what you can look forward to, is a holistic opportunity for your child to develop both academically, socially and nationally for the development for not just this institution, not just for themselves but in order for them to be better citizens for this nation.”

Source: https://newsroom.gy/2024/09/02/first-of-its-kind-st-georges-school-of-sciences-opens/

Approximately 600 students are now comfortably accommodated at the new and improved $152 million Zeelugt Primary School in Region Three.

The school was officially commissioned on Friday, representing the fulfilment of a commitment made by the Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand during a visit in 2021.

Following the contract signing in May 2022, the old wooden structure was demolished and a modern concrete building now stands in its place, featuring a kitchen, library, computer room, an auditorium and 15 classrooms.

Previously, students were accommodated at two religious buildings in the community.

During his remarks, President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali stressed the government’s determination to ensure  all regions have access to well-equipped facilities capable of offering world-class education.

“As I speak to you now, we have made a commitment and made the resources available to the Ministry of Education to have every school in our country that needs to be repainted, repainted. Every washroom facility that needs to be fixed, fixed. Every roof that needs to be fixed, fixed; every drainage system, guttering system that needs to be fixed, fixed,” the president said.

Added to this, every school will have a multi-purpose tarmac to support extracurricular activities.

“Not only are we building new schools, we are setting new and improved minimum standards for your children,” President Ali noted.

Furthermore, he mentioned that substantial resources are being allocated to train all teachers, reminding that Guyana stands out as one of the few countries that offers free teacher training and even provides stipends to encourage educational pursuits.

“And when we came into government, that stipend was below $10,000. Today, that stipend is almost $100,000. More than 900 per cent increase in the stipend,” he underlined.

The president further pointed out, “For this region alone, we’ve increased the number of trained teachers in a nursery school system from 237 in 2020, to 705 today, a more than 220 per cent increase.”

According to the head of state, this speaks to a deliberate strategy set to ensure infrastructure is matched with skill development.

In the primary school system, the number of trained teachers has increased from 510 in 2020 to 1,648 in 2024.

“In 2020, we had 425 trained secondary teachers in this region. Today, we have 1319 trained secondary teachers in this region, a more than 200 per cent increase. When we spoke about a world class education system, it was not only world class buildings, it was world class teachers [and] world class facilities,” he said.

Meanwhile, Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand said  to date, 42 nursery schools and 18 primary schools have been constructed across the country. Some 26 secondary schools are currently underway.

“We have built in Region Three, one new nursery school and five new primary schools, and we are not finished yet. We are currently building…three new secondary schools: one at Tuschen, one at Vreed-en-Hoop, and one at Nismes,” Minister Manickchand highlighted.

Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, also delivered remarks. Regional Chairman, Inshan Ayube, officials within the Ministry of Education, and other regional officials were also in attendance. [DPI]

Source: https://newsroom.gy/2024/09/07/newly-opened-152m-zeelugt-primary-school-to-benefit-600-students/

The $231 million secondary school being constructed in Jawalla, Region Seven is aimed at boosting education in the community and will cater to 250 students. Sheriff Construction Inc. has been awarded the contract after a competitive bidding process. The construction is expected to take eight months, the Ministry of Education revealed in a press release.

A sod-turning ceremony, led by Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, marked the official start of the project. Minister Manickchand emphasized the government’s commitment to improving education in remote areas and highlighted efforts to train more teachers, especially from hinterland regions.

“As you can see, we’re training teachers right from the village… this is the first time in the history of Guyana, we have as many teachers training. We use to be able to train about 535 teachers per year. We’re now training just under 2000 teachers per year. Many of them are coming from hinterland regions where they are returning to serve,” Manickchand stated.

The new Jawalla Secondary School will be equipped with facilities including Chemistry, Biology, Physics, and Information Technology laboratories, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) laboratories, a Home Economics room, library space, teachers’ quarters, spacious classrooms and a small dormitory.

This new school will also help alleviate overcrowding at the DC Caesar Fox Secondary School in Waramadong. It will serve students from nearby communities like Quebanang, Kako, Imbaimadai, Kambaru, Ominike, Abbou, and Eladupai, who currently lack proper secondary education facilities.

Sheriff Construction Inc. is committed to completing the project on time and to high standards, working closely with the local community. This new school is expected to greatly benefit Jawalla, offering modern facilities and a better learning environment.

Additionally, another new secondary school will be built in the nearby community of Phillipai.

Source: https://newsroom.gy/2024/06/20/231m-jawalla-secondary-school-to-be-completed-in-8-months/

Guyana consolidated its curriculum in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and now, Education Minister Priya Manickchand said new ways of assessing Grade Six pupils are being explored.

Manickchand told reporters that the COVID-19 pandemic brought its unique set of challenges but it allowed the Education Ministry to review the curriculum that was being used.

And that review allowed the ministry to start the process of determining whether what was being taught was responsive enough to the needs of Guyanese pupils.

“Do we want to continue doing all four (subjects) and if we do, do we wanna continue a seated exam or do we want to do projects and more competency-based measurements for those two subjects, science and social studies?” Manickchand quizzed on Thursday morning during a visit.

She added, “We need to ensure that every child in Grade Four is reading and comprehending so that means we need to spend more time on literacy and mathematics than making the academic day so crowded with other things that children are not getting some basic instruction early on.”

However, any possible changes are mere considerations now.

The Education Minister said there are many other factors to consider, including how any possible curriculum or assessment changes can be made without influencing how competitive Guyanese pupils are.

The National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA)- which is Guyana’s secondary school entrance examination- is being written on Thursday and Friday. This assessment usually tests four areas: Mathematics, English, Social Studies and Science.

Because of the challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, a consolidated curriculum has been used for teaching and assessments.

Grade Six pupils will this year get tested on the consolidated curriculum for Grades Three, Four and Five.

Source: https://newsroom.gy/2024/05/02/education-ministry-considering-new-ways-of-assessing-grade-six-pupils/

In a significant move to improve  educational access and foster stronger community ties, Minister of  Education, Priya Manickchand, inaugurated new libraries at Tuschen Primary School, Greenwich Park Primary School, and Parika Salem Primary School. The ribbon-cutting ceremonies were followed by public meetings where the Minister engaged directly with local residents, addressing both education-related issues and broader community concerns.

The new libraries are part of the Ministry of Education’s ongoing efforts to enhance educational resources for students across the country. These libraries aim to foster literacy, creativity, and independent learning, providing crucial spaces for children to develop essential academic skills. However, Minister Manickchand’s visit wasn’t just about cutting ribbons—it also marked an opportunity for meaningful dialogue with the public.

At each school, the Minister held in-depth discussions with local residents, who raised a wide range of concerns, including infrastructure quality, public health, safety, and social services. While some of the issues raised fell outside the scope of the Ministry of Education, Minister Manickchand assured residents that their concerns would be forwarded to the relevant government departments for further action.

At Tuschen Primary School, the Minister engaged in a lively exchange with the community, addressing issues such as road safety, public health, and infrastructure needs. Although some concerns were related to other ministries, the Minister emphasized that all issues would be taken seriously and included in future development plans.

In Greenwich Park, Minister Manickchand focused on the government’s ongoing education reforms, explaining how these would positively impact both teachers and students. She also addressed concerns raised by parents and teachers regarding infrastructure needs, student transportation, and broader community challenges. The Minister acknowledged that some of these issues would take time to resolve but assured the community that they would not be overlooked.

At Parika Salem Primary School, the discussion centered not only on education but also on pressing local concerns like road conditions and healthcare access. Minister Manickchand listened attentively to the challenges faced by both parents and teachers, reinforcing the government’s commitment to addressing these issues through coordinated efforts across different ministries.

Throughout her visits, Minister Manickchand reaffirmed that education remains a cornerstone of the government’s development strategy. She emphasized that quality education is not only about access to schools but also about addressing the broader needs of the community to ensure sustainable growth and a better future for all.

“Access to education is key to our national development, but so is ensuring that our communities have the necessary infrastructure and services to thrive,” said Minister Manickchand. “These libraries are just one step in our ongoing efforts to enhance educational outcomes. We are equally committed to ensuring that local concerns are heard and acted upon.”

The Minister also reaffirmed her full support for the Libraries in Primary Schools Initiative, stressing that access to books and educational materials is vital to the intellectual growth of children and plays a key role in developing well-rounded, informed citizens.

Today’s library inaugurations and public meetings are part of the Ministry of Education’s broader effort to engage with local communities and improve  educational access across the country. The government plans to continue opening more school  libraries in the coming months and will host additional public meetings to ensure that residents can voice their concerns and participate in decision-making processes.

Minister Manickchand concluded her visit by thanking the residents of Tuschen, Greenwich Park, and Parika Salem for their active participation, encouraging them to continue collaborating with the Ministry to drive meaningful change. She also promised that the concerns raised during her visits would be addressed promptly and followed up with relevant government agencies.

As the Ministry of Education continues to work towards enhancing educational infrastructure and resources, it remains committed to ensuring that the needs of all communities are heard, understood, and acted upon in a timely and effective manner.

Source: https://newsroom.gy/2024/11/13/manickchand-inaugurates-new-school-libraries-engages-with-parents-in-tuschen-greenwich-park-and-parika/

The Ministry of Education wants all teachers across the country trained or in training by 2025 and already, subject Minister Priya Manickchand said about 99 per cent progress was attained on that goal.

“Right now we have 99 per cent of our teachers trained or in training,” Manickchand said on Tuesday at a press conference in Kingston, Georgetown.

For years, the country has had an average of about 70 per cent to 80 per cent trained teachers.

But with a massive expansion of the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE), many more teachers are getting trained now. Manickchand said with this deliberate policy decision, coupled with improved access to training opportunities in hinterland communities, many more teachers are becoming trained.

She described these opportunities as “game changers.”

Manickchand also noted that getting to 100 per cent trained teachers may take some more time since there are few instances where it would not be practical to ask older teachers in the system to get formal training now. Instead, she said those teachers are being supported otherwise.

Meanwhile, the minister also spoke about the suite of incentives being rolled out to improve teachers’ welfare in Guyana. Those incentives include increased allowances, scholarships, and duty-free allowances.

“Teachers of this country are precious to us and have benefitted from deliberate actions meant to make their life and welfare easier,” she said.

Source: https://newsroom.gy/2024/05/14/99-of-local-teachers-trained-or-in-training-manickchand/

The Campbellville Secondary School is set to undergo a significant transformation with the construction of a new teaching block, valued at $143.9 million.

On Tuesday morning, Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand visited the site where she turned the sod for the new building.

The new teaching block will feature eight classrooms, two sanitary blocks, and a staff room, providing modern facilities that will enhance the learning environment for both students and staff.

The contract for the construction has been awarded to Kaiveri Construction Inc., and the project is expected to be completed within eleven months.

This investment underscores the Ministry of Education’s commitment to improving educational infrastructure across the country.

The school community is eagerly anticipating the completion of the project, which promises to foster a more conducive atmosphere for academic excellence and accommodate more students.

“We are thrilled about this development.

“It represents a significant step forward in our efforts to provide high-quality education and better facilities for our students and teachers,” Minister Manickchand said. (Ministry of Education press release)

Source: https://newsroom.gy/2024/08/06/sod-turned-for-new-143m-teaching-block-at-campbellville-secondary-school/

Education Minister Priya Manickchand recently highlighted that all primary school children will received government issued Spanish dictionaries and textbooks from September, a move expected to help Guyana achieve its goal of developing a competency in the language.

Guyana’s Head of State, Dr. Irfaan Ali said Spanish would become compulsory in schools. Since then, more pupils and students are being taught the language.

Manickchand, at a recent press conference, acknowledged that staffing challenges remain, as there are not enough trained Spanish teachers to engage all schoolchildren. She, nevertheless, noted that other avenues have been pursued to guarantee that Spanish is taught.

One example of that is the creation of Spanish multimedia learning content by the National Center of Educational Resources Development (NCERD). That content, Manickchand said, can even be used by non-Spanish speaking tutors.

But other measures will unfold soon.

“In September coming, all primary school children will have Spanish resources in their individual bookbags, including a Spanish dictionary and Spanish texts that are age appropriate,” Manickchand said.

Further, she noted that all teachers will soon get Spanish training via the Coursera online learning platform. So that means there will be a larger pool of qualified teachers, able to help children learn the language.

Source: https://newsroom.gy/2024/05/21/spanish-dictionaries-textbooks-for-all-pupils-from-september-manickchand/

The Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) has threatened to take industrial action from next Monday over its disappointment over talks on salary increases and other issues.

On Wednesday, however, the Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton and Minister of Education Priya Manickchand both said the proposed strike action is not legal since the stages of engagements have not been completed.

“GTU is seeking to reach arbitration, which is stage four, when we haven’t even dealt with stage one,” Hamilton told reporters on Wednesday.

According to him, engagements between the Ministry of Education and the GTU on the proposed Multi-Year Agreement that includes salary increases have not broken down, so by law the Union cannot call for the Labour Ministry to intervene in an arbitration process.

And if that cannot be done, he said an industrial action now would not be legal.

In such cases, the parties would first engage in discussions and negotiations as has been the case between the Education Ministry and the Union. If that doesn’t work out well, a process of conciliation follows; this helps both parties to develop their own proposed solutions. Then, there is mediation which involves the support of a neutral third party.

Arbitration is the final phase of such engagements. Through this, the parties settle their disagreement by putting the matter to arbitrators who make a binding decision on the matter.

Hamilton and Manickchand stated that the talks between the parties have not progressed beyond bilateral engagements.

Manickchand, also during an engagement with reporters on Wednesday, said GTU officials met with Education Ministry officials that same day to hammer out proposed measures to reduce teachers’ workload in schools.

With those talks ongoing, the Education Minister accused the GTU General Secretary Coretta McDonald of pushing for this strike action for “narrow political gain.”

According to her, the Education Ministry has been engaging the Union in good faith, acting on about 24 of the body’s 41 proposed measures so far. And she said the government is focused on teachers’ holistic welfare and not just increasing their salaries.

“I don’t think an objective examination of the issue will show that we have not been interested in teachers’ welfare. We are not going to look at salaries and not other aspects of their welfare,” she said.

So she urged teachers not to engage in the illegal strike action and appealed for all parties to put the interest of Guyana’s learners first.

Source: https://newsroom.gy/2024/01/31/proposed-teachers-strike-not-legal-manickchand-says-govt-focused-on-supporting-teachers/