The Ministry of Education continues to aggressively pursue Universal Secondary Education to ensure students across Guyana have access to quality secondary education. This was further boosted today with the signing of contracts for the construction of the Hosororo Secondary School in Region One and a Secondary School that will be built in Tuschen in Region Three.

The two schools will be built at $2.619B and $864.705M respectively. Both projects were divided into various lots to allow for an earlier completion date. The schools are expected to be completed within seven to eight months from today.

The Honourable Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand said that the Ministry is on a massive drive with secondary education. She said that these projects are important to the Ministry because, with more students in the system, space becomes an issue necessitating the construction of more schools so that students and teachers can learn and teach in a comfortable environment.

Minister Manickchand said that the Government of Guyana wants to ensure that children can be given the opportunity to a sound secondary education across the country.

The Education Minister warned the contractors present today that they cannot delay the projects so that by September 2024, students can begin attending the schools. She said, “You are going to change people’s lives. An entire generation will get a different and a better life because of what you do”. She encouraged them to be efficient and to reach out to the Ministry if they are experiencing difficulties so that they can be resolved. Also present at today’s signing ceremony were Permanent Secretary, Mr. Alfred King, Chief Education Officer, Mr. Saddam Hussain and Special Projects Officer, Mr. Ron Eastman.

The secondary school at Tuschen will be a fully reinforced concrete structure combined with a circular and cylindrical building outline that is covered in a dome roof. The building will also be branched with several scientific and research centres, a multi-purpose and cafeteria hall, a storage and changing area and a library and document centre. The school will have 24 classrooms to accommodate over 800 students. The science centre will be equipped with a physics, chemistry and biology lab while the TVET Centre will have industrial and home economics laboratories.

The school will also have sanitary blocks for the student and teacher population. The fire prevention features include fire escape exits, escape doors, fire alarms, extinguishers, limited timber usage, metal ceilings and fire-retardant panels. The outdoor space will include a recreational facility for basketball, cricket and other sports.

The contracts awarded for the construction of the secondary school at Tuschen are as follows:

Lot -1 Sub-Structure Works	S&K Construction	$285,101,936.00
Lot -2 Super-Structure Works	AS Construction	$179,100,000.00
Lot -3 Plumbing Works	VG Group Guyana Inc.	$29,212,549.00
Lot -4 Electrical Works	N Balgobin & Sons	$72,467,910.00
Lot -5 Finishing Works	K&S General Construction	$137,833,000.00
Lot -6 External Works	AS Construction	$160,990,000.00

The Hosororo Secondary School will have 29 classrooms to accommodate over 500 students. Its science centre will also feature physics, chemistry and biology laboratories. The TVET centre will have both industrial and home economics laboratories. A student dormitory and visiting area will also be constructed to accommodate 200 students while the teachers’ duplex living quarters will accommodate 20 teachers. There will also be sanitary blocks for both students and teachers. The fire prevention features include fire escape exits, escape doors, fire alarms, extinguishers, limited timber usage, metal ceilings and fire-retardant panels. The outdoor space will accommodate several sporting disciplines.

The contracts awarded for the construction of the Hosororo Secondary School are as follows:

Lot -1 Site Development Works	International Imports & Supplies	$280,204,731.00
Lot -2 Sub-Structure Works, School Building	International Imports & Supplies	$303,837,015.00
Lot -3 Sub-Structure Works, Dormitory	Supreme Contracting & Supplies	$196,319,040.00
Lot -4 Sub-Structure Works, Teachers Quarters	International Imports & Supplies	$180,402,585.00
Lot -5 Super-Structure Works & Electrical	VG Group Guyana	$1,411,400,917.00
Lot -6 Plumbing Works	VG Group Guyana	$247,043,973.00

Source: https://newsroom.gy/2023/07/08/contracts-signed-for-new-secondary-schools-at-tuschen-and-hosororo/

The Ministry of Education has Commissioned the Victory Lilly Primary school, at Tuschen on the East Bank of Essequibo.   

The $200m facility has the capacity to accommodate over three hundred children and boasts of an auditorium, kitchenette, sanitary blocks, Wi-fi connection and other amenities.

Speaking during the Commissioning ceremony, Education Minister Priya Manickchand said the new primary school became necessary since the old Tucschen primary school was not conducive for learning. She said the Tuschen school became overcrowded.

“In addition to the overcrowding that was happening before, we have to cater in a humane way for these new children also and almost immediately upon hearing that we got that problem, President Ali instructed the Ministry of Housing to assist the Ministry of Education, because we had examined all the different buildings where we can place children and so on,” the Education Minister said.

The Minister of Education explained that there is currently a massive infrastructure “build out” in the Education sector, with a number of new schools to be built in the coming months.

She said while the government is trying its best to ensure that children are comfortable, it must be understood that buildings don’t educate students and implore parents to have a working relationship with the teachers so that their children can meet their full potential.

Further, she noted that to increase the student’s performance, the government has taken an initiative to have untrained teachers to receive training for free, even while receiving their full salaries.

“Even as we do that, all your children will have all the text books in their own book bags. So, I hope you see, when we see we will serve you, it comes with action and what we need from you is your partnership, we are asking you to stand with us and we make your children the best that they can be,” Ms. Manickchand implored.

The construction of several other primary schools are ongoing in the Region Three area.

Source: https://newssourcegy.com/news/education-minister-encourages-parents-to-build-working-relationship-with-teachers-as-new-school-is-opened-in-tuschen/

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand today commissioned the new building for the Haslington Nursery School on the East Coast of Demerara.

A release from the Ministry of Education said that the cost to construct the new school was $28,129,000.

Assistant Chief Education Officer,  Devendre Persaud said that the new structure is in keeping with the Government’s commitment to enhance school buildings across the country so that children can enjoy the best facilities.

He said, “I firmly believe that buildings, classrooms, laboratories, and equipment- educational infrastructure- are crucial elements of school learning environments. There is strong evidence that high-quality infrastructure facilitates better instruction, improves student outcomes, and reduces dropout rates, among other benefits.”

According to the release, Persaud applauded the Regional Administration and the Department of Education of Region Four for their “excellent work” to improve the quality of education infrastructure in the region.

Also, present at today’s commissioning was the Regional Education Officer,  Adrian Elgin who said that he was honoured to witness the commissioning of the school. On behalf of the Regional Democratic Council and the Department of Education, he thanked the Ministry of Education and the Government of Guyana for ensuring the region and the community of Haslington benefited from a brand-new nursery school.

Delivering the feature address, Manickchand encouraged those parents present to play a greater role in the lives of their children. She urged the teachers to continue working with their children so that they can read at their grade level. The Education Minister said that this will go a long way in setting the foundation for children to be successful as they move through the school system.

She spoke about the recently distributed school grants that can be used to purchase items to enhance the school and ensure its smooth functioning. The Haslington Nursery School currently has 60 pupils enrolled. At $4,000 per child, this amounts to a total of $240,000 per term.

The release said that Manickchand told parents that even though the grants are given to support the work of the school, they should still play an active role in the life of the school through the Parent-Teachers Association. She said that the new school is more than a building. “In this building, children will attend school, and they will leave ready to help run this country, to help to run this world”, she said.

Source: https://www.stabroeknews.com/2023/09/29/news/guyana/haslington-gets-28m-nursery-school-building/

After two recent reports of teachers being assaulted by parents at schools, the Education Minister Priya Manickchand on Tuesday said one of the students was transferred to ensure that the parent in question cannot interact with the teacher.

Also, she said the teachers who assaulted parents will be restricted from all schools.

“We will not be expelling students from the school system. We are duty bound to do what is in the best interest of minor children. Minor children cannot be held responsible for wreckless, careless, uncontrollable adults but we have to take certain realities into consideration.

“The child might not be able to stay in that school. That might not be best for the child if teachers are going to ignore the child.

“I can’t force teachers to interact with a child who has uncontrollable parents.

“…no child is going to be refused education but there may be causes for transfers,” the Education Minister said.

The Minister also said there is no justification for assaulting teachers at schools and she said that where issues arise, parents have the right to make complaints.

She added that this serious issue is being addressed by the Ministry and those who are involved are facing serious consequences.

“This is a very serious issue and we are saying unequivocally: any parent who assaults a teacher is going to be dealt with criminally and there will be consequences for that parent.

“…so even if we transfer the student, teachers are human beings and if teachers don’t believe that they want to put themselves at risk of attracting the attention of an uncontrollable parent then we may have to transfer a student.

“If we do that we will still make sure that the parent has no access to the teacher,” the minister said.

Minister Manickchand said parents who display disruptive and violent behaviour at schools are taking away their privilege of being involved in their child’s academic life because they will be restricted from entering any educational institution.

Further, she said this behaviour is not benefitting to students and rules are outlined for children being disciplined by teachers. She said the rules were breached and “people breaching the rules will be dealt with”.

Based on guidelines under the Ministry of Education, corporal punishment in schools must only be administered by the head teacher, deputy, or designated senior mistress or master. Even with those guidelines, there have been complaints circulating online that suggest that teachers within classrooms are disciplining students.

Last week there were two reports of teachers being physically assaulted by parents.  It was reported that a teacher, Shawn Marshall, was assaulted at the Graham’s Hall Primary School. Marshall was taken to the hospital with a swollen face and arms. Another teacher was allegedly physically assaulted by a parent at the St Angela’s Primary School located in Georgetown last Thursday.

The parent involved in the assault at St Angela’s made posts on social media where she said the teacher beat her son and had an attitude when confronted.

Source: https://newsroom.gy/2023/01/17/parents-who-assaulted-teachers-restricted-from-all-schools/

The government on Tuesday turned the sod for the construction of a $1.7 billion school at Karasabai in Region Nine and according to Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand the school is intended to deliver “first class” education to students of the region.

The contract is being undertaken by Avinash Contracting and is scheduled to be completed in two years.

The modern school complex is fitted with ten buildings. These include the main teaching block and allied lecturing facilities, modern science laboratory for Physics, Chemistry and Biology, TVET Centers, a combined Home Economics and cafeteria area, teachers’ quarters and an outdoor sitting forecourt. Upon completion, the facility will cater for 500 students in the classroom, and 250 students in the dormitories.

The Ministry of Education, in a press release, noted that the contract for the project was signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and officials of the company.

According to the ministry, students in the Karasabai subdistrict from communities such as Tiger Pond, Cracrana, Tsushima, Kokshebai and Yurong Paru are not receiving a secondary education at the moment or are being educated in primary tops.

As such, the ministry said the project will be instrumental in providing more educational opportunities for students in the region and will transform the quality of their lives.

“This means students will no longer have to traverse rough terrains  daily to receive an education they rightly deserve. Students from Karasabai and all other neighbouring villages will have the opportunity to pursue a sound secondary education,” the release noted.

“We are very certain that once we do that, you will see your children excel,” the release quoted Manickchand saying.

Further, she noted that hinterland education delivery remains a top priority for the Ministry and by extension the Government of Guyana.

In addition to constructing the Karasabai Secondary School, the ministry said several other schools are being constructed across the country.

Source: https://newsroom.gy/2023/02/22/sod-turned-for-1-7b-school-at-karasabai/

The Irfaan Ali-led administration plans to upgrade dorms, teachers quarters and all other educational facilities across Guyana at soonest but $11 billion in supplementary funding is needed to execute these plans.

This was announced by President Dr. Irfaan Ali on Thursday, as he addressed the commissioning ceremony of the new Abram Zuil Secondary School on the Essequibo Coast.

Dr. Ali said Cabinet examined a survey conducted on all educational facilities across the country earlier that day. After completing that examination, it was decided that $11 billion is needed to upgrade all of those facilities to a “minimum” standard.

And the Head of State explained that the government will be approaching the National Assembly for a supplementary budget.

“This is for education alone. That is to bring our existing facilities, our teachers quarters to a minimum standard. It will cost us $11B Guyana dollars,” President Ali said.

He added, “So you are going to see in our next supplementary provision, we are going to go to have a chunk of these resources ready to support this investment of $11 billion across the country”.

The investment, Dr Ali said, will see the retrofitting, maintenance and renovation of all educational facilities in every region across the country.

“Whether it’s dorms, hostels, teachers quarters, schools-nursery, secondary and primary,” he noted.

Additionally, the investment into the upgrades will form part of a “multi-year, multi programme” agenda for education development locally.

The survey which helped to determine the investment needed was conducted in the third quarter of 2022. Health facilities across the country were also examined.

Meanwhile, President Ali also said Cabinet is exploring how it can ensure teachers are on a standard basic minimum wage.

“.…To avoid the disparity that exists, we are going to correct that from 2020 to now,” the President said.

He added, “It is important that as we develop that we give our people better and better service. Deliver better and better outcomes for the people of our country.”

Source: https://newsroom.gy/2023/06/23/govt-to-upgrade-dorms-teachers-quarters-but-needs-another-11b/

A total of 1,796 teachers graduated from the Cyril Potter College of Education on Wednesday, making it the largest cohort of teachers to ever graduate from Guyana’s only teacher training college.

It is also the largest cohort of graduating teachers in the Caribbean. This is another step towards the Ministry of Education’s goal of having 100 per cent trained teachers in classrooms across the country. This moves the country’s trained teachers from 65% to 79%. This means that 99.5 per cent of teachers in classrooms are either trained or in training.

Four hundred and seventy-seven (477) teachers graduated from CPCE’s Early Childhood Education Programme, 841 from the Primary Education Programme, 238 from the Secondary Academic Programme and 240 from the Secondary Pre-Vocational Programme – a total of 1,796 trained teachers.

Of the graduates, 66 graduated from the Trained Teachers’ Certificate Programme, while the remaining 1,730 graduated from the Associate Degree Programme.

Addressing the graduates, Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand urged the newly graduated teachers to add value to every child that they come into contact with as they advance their teaching career.

She noted that 87 per cent of the graduating teachers are women. More than 20 per cent of the graduates are from the hinterland and riverain communities, while 35 per cent of the teachers are from Region Four, 11 per cent from Region Ten, 14 per cent from Region Three and 12 per cent from Regions Two and Six. Some 238 trainees are graduating as Secondary Academic teachers, 78 per cent are English trained, 75 per cent are Math trained, 35 per cent are Science trained, 31 per cent are Social Studies trained and 9 per cent are Spanish trained.

Delivering the feature address, Prime Minister Brigadier (retired) Mark Phillips emphasized the importance of trained teachers in the classroom. He reiterated the Government’s commitment to fostering quality education by investing in tangible initiatives including improving educational facilities, expanding the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in education, enhancing TVET facilities, and increasing scholarship opportunities, among others.

Meanwhile, CPCE Principal, Noella Joseph, urged the newly trained teachers to be professional in the execution of their mandate to educate and nurture the nation’s children. (Modified press release from Ministry of Education)

Source: https://newsroom.gy/2023/11/30/over-1700-teachers-graduate-from-cpce/

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand yesterday commissioned the Doodnauth Hetram block at Queen’s College.

A release from the Ministry of Education said that the $103.5 million block features eight classrooms, washroom facilities, and a home economics lab and will accommodate approximately 200 Queen’s College sixth form students.

Delivering the feature address, Manickchand stated that the Ministry of Education has been assiduously working to provide safe and comfortable learning environments for students across the country. She said that the commissioning of a new block caters to the growing population of the school.

She said that the idea behind the expansion of the school is to enable more students to benefit from the opportunities and quality of education offered by the institution. She pointed out that this is the approach at the five national schools (Queen’s College, the Bishops’ High, St. Stanislaus College, St. Rose’s High School and St. Joseph High School).

While giving a background to the new block, the Principal of Queen’s College, Rajkumarie Lall stated that it was named after Doodnauth Hetram a former principal to commemorate his nineteen years of service to the school. He was the first Guyanese principal of the institution and served in that capacity from 1963 to 1969.

Chairman of the school’s Board of Governors, Marcel Gaskin said that the Doodnauth Hetram block is a welcome addition to the institution’s facilities.

Source: https://www.stabroeknews.com/2023/09/20/news/guyana/doodnauth-hetram-block-commissioned-at-queens-college/

The incumbent People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) government had promised to provide 20,000 scholarships to Guyanese within its five-year term in office and on Thursday, President Dr. Irfaan Ali announced that this target was surpassed in just three years.

“I was doing an analysis of our manifesto and we have blown it away.

“Today, let me announce to you, that in less than three years it has surpassed its 20,000 scholarships in five years,” Dr. Ali told reporters at the sidelines of an event.

A majority of the government scholarships are being distributed through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL), a body set up in 2021 to facilitate access to numerous higher education programmes offered from several universities abroad.

Studies are done online and persons can access certificate programmes, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand confirmed the President’s announcement, stating that just over 21,000 students have already received these scholarships, including about 2,000 teachers.

At first, the Education Minister said more traditional courses of study were sought but over time, more people are taking courses applicable to Guyana’s labour needs. That includes studies in tourism and hospitality, counselling and teaching.

And Manickchand assured the public that the programme will not end now that the 20,000 mark has been surpassed.

“We’re not stopping here. [GOAL] has really afforded students the opportunity to study to do degrees…” she said.

Last year at an outreach activity in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Berbice), Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo assured people that there was no fixed cap on the GOAL scholarship programme. According to him, the government will provide more scholarships if more people want to study.

Meanwhile, President Ali also told reporters on Thursday that the government remains committed to its promise of making tertiary education free by 2025.

“Everything we promised is 100% on.

“…. Bet your last dollar it is going to happen,” he said.

Source: https://newsroom.gy/2023/08/11/more-than-20000-scholarships-already-issued-govt-promises-to-expand-programme/

Close to a year after it was destroyed in a fire, the Ministry of Education on Friday inked a $253M contract for the reconstruction of the St. George’s High School, which will include fireproof ceilings and ‘special’ doors for quick exits.

Measuring 209 feet by 70 feet, the two-storey structure was designed to accommodate between 300 to 400 students; it will be rebuilt at the same location between North and Church Streets.

It will include 12 classrooms, six laboratories, a canteen and fire prevention mechanisms, including fire escape stairs, fire alarms, limited timber usage, metal ceilings, and escape doors.

Delivering remarks before the signing of the contract, Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand said that the ministry is keen on ensuring that every child could access a “high quality” secondary education.

Already battling space constraints to accommodate students in Georgetown, Manickchand said the fires at schools over the past months have worsened the situation.

“We had serious space constraints that had not been addressed…We were really in a bad place in Georgetown for seats for students. So we really didn’t had enough, literally space…desks and benches for classrooms to fit the children who come to Georgetown,” Manickchand said.

Based on the advice of engineers, Manickchand said the school was designed in a way to allow several contractors to work simultaneously so that the structure can be ready at the fastest possible time.

The new St. George’s High School is expected to be completed between five to seven months.  The project will be executed in six lots by different contractors as listed below:

Lot 1- Construction of Super Structure- BM Property Investment Inc- $113,943,900

Lot 2- Block Works- BM Property Investment Inc-$59,989,500

Lot 3- Plumbing Works- A. Ograsein & Sons General Contracting-$9,651,970

Lot 4- Electrical Works- Cummings Electrical Company Ltd-$$18,720,592

Lot 5- External Works- Superior Supplies & General Construction-$$22,472,560

Lot 6- Finishing Works- Superior Supplies & General Construction-$29,052,600

Manickchand warned the contractors that they are likely to face consequences if they fail to meet the project deadline.

“You won this (project) through a fair process. You said to us that you can build this in this time for this amount. If you know you can’t do it, don’t sign these contracts today because in as much as we want this done…if you can’t get this done we will have to be firm in implementing the provisions of the contract for liquidation and other damages,” Manickchand contended.

She added, “I hope everybody…can understand their contracting obligations…You have a chance here now to say ‘well look Minister not this one’…If you are going to sign here, understand what your contracting obligations are,” she said.

A fire ripped through the St. George’s High School on July 20, 2022, displacing hundreds of students. An nvestigation later revealed that the fire was electrical in origin.

Source: https://newsroom.gy/2023/06/09/fireproof-ceiling-for-253m-new-st-georges-high-school/