As part o fits efforts to provide  universal education, the Ministry of Education has announced that three new schools will be built in the Barima-Waini region (Region One).

The schools will be constructed in Huradiah in the Moruca subdistrict, Waramuri and Kwebana, a release from the ministry said.

According to the release, following consultations with residents of Huradiah village, Moruca Sub Region, a new primary school will be built in the community which will cater for 250 pupils. Presently, to receive an education, pupils in the village travel across the Moruca river to the Santa Rosa Primary School. That school is currently overcrowded.

The release disclosed that ten acres of land were made available for the construction of the school. Pupils from the villages of Huradiah, Cabrora, Acquero and Rincon will also benefit from this new school.

Additionally, a new secondary school will be built at Waramuri. The Ministry of Education said it will be a modern secondary school that will house 400 students. It is also expected to be equipped with Physics, Chemistry and Biology laboratories along with Information Technology, Home Economics and Industrial Technology laboratories, staff room, auditorium and teachers’ quarters to house 10 teachers and will be solar powered.

Students from Waramuri and Haimacabra are also expected to benefit from the construction of this school.

Similarly, the ministry said, a modern secondary school which will cater to 500 students will be constructed in Kwebana. Like the school at Waramuri, this complex will be equipped with Physics, Chemistry and Biology laboratories along with Information Technology, Home Economics and Industrial Technology laboratories, staff room, auditorium and will be solar powered.

In addition to catering for 500 students in the classrooms, a dormitory will be built to house 250 children. It also comes equipped with teachers’ quarters which will house 30 teachers.

The school will serve the villages of Kwebanna, Santa Cruz, Waikerebi, Chinese Landing, Kokerite, Kariako, Warapoka, Assakata, and Unity Grant.

The primary school at Kewbana is currently being extended to comfortably accommodate the school’s increasing population.

Source: https://www.stabroeknews.com/2023/03/05/news/guyana/students-in-region-one-to-benefit-from-three-new-schools/

The Sister Hazel Campayne Block at the St Rose’s High School was yesterday commissioned by Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand.

A release from the Ministry of Education said that the $515.07m three-storey building is equipped with ten classrooms, a furnished Information Techno-logy laboratory for research and development, a library for advanced document research, a new  Headteacher’s office, an auditorium, a cafeteria, and an open courtyard.

Delivering the feature address,  Manickchand stated that the block was named after Sister Hazel Campayne to honour the contributions of the Ursuline Sisters’ Convent made in the education sector.

“Sister Hazel, this block is being named after you in recognition of what you yourself contributed. I would also like to ask the other sisters to accept this, as our thank you and our recognition of the role you would have played for decades in this country”, she said.

Additionally, the Education Minister stated that the new facilities provide common spaces for students to interact and learn from each other. She encouraged the students to take advantage of the opportunities presented.

Acting Principal of the St Rose’s High School,  Rayon Tobin stated that both the students and teachers of the institution are pleased with the school’s new block as provides a conducive learning environment.

Chairman of the Board of Governors at the St Rose’s High School, Kenrick Thomas said that the school has now been given “a breath of new life”. He further expressed gratitude to all involved in the project, particularly the Minister and Ministry of Education for the support provided.  

Source: https://www.stabroeknews.com/2023/09/27/news/guyana/sister-hazel-campayne-block-commissioned-at-st-roses-high/

The PPP/C Administration is focusing heavily on ensuring the nation’s children receive quality education that sets them up for a successful future that aligns with the growth and development of the country.

To this end, Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand on Friday announced that the construction of a new secondary school at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo is in works, even as construction of the new primary school is moving apace.

The Tuschen Primary School is being built by LaRose Construction and is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Housing and Water.

The primary school is currently in the first phase of construction. The school will have a capacity of 300 pupils, providing a conducive learning environment.

Minister Manickchand inspected the ongoing works on the school, which she noted is not only a symbol of the government’s commitment to education, but also represents a partnership between the government and the community.

The minister said it is a call to action for parents and guardians to actively participate in their children’s education, to ensure that they receive the support they need to succeed.

“And I ask you to partner with us on this journey so that each and every child has a better life than their parents had, to make sure that each family improves along with each child, to make sure that each community develops at the same pace that the oil Guyana is going to develop at,” Minister Manickchand stated.

The construction of the schools is just the beginning of a journey towards a brighter future for the children of Guyana. (Extracted and modified from DPI)

Source: https://newsroom.gy/2023/03/11/works-on-new-tuschen-primary-school-moving-apace/

A new library was opened on Saturday at the Mon Repos Primary School on the East Coast of Demerara. This was made possible through the efforts of ‘Spread the Words’, a group led by Ms. Laura Ryan.

At the opening ceremony, Minister of Education Priya Manickchand said that the establishment of the library fits directly into the agenda of the Ministry of Education. She said that the Ministry has set a goal that every child must be a reader by Grade Four. According to the Education Minister, currently, at the exit examinations, there is evidence to show that many children cannot read.

She said that the Ministry is in the quest to ensure that every child across the country can exit primary school fully literate. She said that the new library will not only serve the children attending the Mon Repos Primary School but also those within the community who attend other schools.

Minister Manickchand said that the Government of Guyana is working to ensure children are educated so that they can benefit from the development that is happening in the country and actively participate in that development. Minister Manickchand thanked Ms. Ryan for her contribution and efforts. She said that it is important that people engage in projects and activities that will have a lasting impact on the lives of those around them.

This is the third school that Ms. Ryan and her team established. The other two schools are Belle West Primary School and Plaisance Primary School. Minister Manickchand said that similar projects can be done in other communities which will support the Government’s thrust to make every child a reader.

Ms. Ryan said that her team of volunteers had a vision of creating a beautiful space, “where children could gather; a colourful, fun and inviting area where fairies and unicorns, heroes and villains would grab their imaginations.”

She thanked the teachers and parents of the school for allowing her team the opportunity to work on the project and bring it to completion for the students. She encouraged the learners to make full use of the library, care the books, and return them on time. Quoting Dr. Seuss, she said “The more you read, the more you’ll know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

Meanwhile, Chief Librarian at the National Library, Ms. Emily King encouraged the team to continue their work and go into more communities to establish similar facilities. She said that reading builds the minds and skills of every individual.

Ms. King suggested that the use of the library should be integrated into the school’s program and not be used when there is ‘free time’. She encouraged the teachers to ensure their learners utilize the library and to reach out to parents so that they can make sure their children are reading.

Regional Education Officer for Region Four, Ms. Stembiso Grant said that libraries are a storehouse of knowledge and are important to the development of education. She said the Region is working to achieve the goal of the Ministry to ensure each child is a reader by Grade Four. She said that though there has been improvement in the area of literacy, there is still work to be done. She too urged the teachers to have their learners use the library and borrow books.

Source: https://newsroom.gy/2023/03/12/new-library-opens-at-the-mon-repos-primary-school/

Region One is expected to have a brand new secondary school within the next seven to eight months.

This is according to the Ministry of Education, which yesterday signed contracts worth over $2 billion for the construction of the Kwebanna Secon-dary School in Barima/ Waini.

The signing ceremony was held in the ministry’s boardroom in the presence of Education Minister Priya Manickchand, Permanent Secretary, Alfred King; contractors and others.

The school when completed will house over 600 students from Kwebanna and other villages.

Touted as one of the schools that will be equipped with modern amenities, when completed, it will house over 30 classrooms, laboratories for physics, chemistry, biology, information technology, TVET, home economics, and industrial technology. It will also have an auditorium, a staff room, and will be powered by solar energy 

Additionally, there will also be a dormitory to house some 250 students and duplex living quarters for 25 teachers will also be constructed. And in acknowledgement of the need for safety, the school is expected to have fire escape exits, escape doors, fire alarms, fire extinguishers, limited timber usage, metal ceilings, and fire retardant panels.

This project comprises a six-lot facility and all works are expected to be carried out by Singh and Son Construction, Bree’s Enterprise, Supreme Contracting and Supplies, and AS Construction.

At the signing ceremony,  Manickchand said that the school represents an aggressive push to have facilities that were never had before, and also to improve universal secondary education. The school, she added, will form part of the drive to build capacity by producing graduates who can enter the world of work. 

 “We need these schools, this school particularly, to be able to offer quality education. This school will change lives and give people opportunities they never had before…There’s going to be a point where 10 to 15 years from now, the children going to this school are going to be the teachers of the school”, she said.

As such, the minister said that these projects are important and urged contractors to ensure that the work is done properly. She warned, “Again, this was divided into six lots because we want simultaneous work happening at the same time. If you can’t do it according to your contractual terms we are going to have to apply damages.”

Manickchand noted the school’s importance in addressing the overcrowding issue.

“There are children in various rivers, where they are just literally marking time in primary schools until they age out. So, we need these schools to be able to offer quality education. It’s going to change lives,” she said.

Source: https://www.stabroeknews.com/2023/07/06/news/guyana/contracts-inked-for-new-2b-kwebanna-secondary-school/

In an effort to address the issue of space constraints, Minister of  Education, Priya Manickchand on Wednesday commissioned a new $85M wing at the St Winefride’s Secondary School.

The new wing consists of classrooms which will be occupied by 135 students from Grades Nine and 11 and a Science laboratory.

It was named after one of the school’s first headmistresses, Avril Crawford.

Delivering remarks at the commissioning ceremony, Manickchand said that the establishment of the new block will alleviate space constraints previously faced by the school.

“We are going to send you programmes and bring programmes here, now that we have everybody back on campus that will make you rounded students.

“Not just academically strong but also rounded, able to take on issues when you get out there in the world. Able to participate in this new thriving Guyana,” Manickchand said.

With the ministry providing the necessary resources so children can learn in a comfortable environment, Manickchand urged teachers to ensure that the necessary values are instilled in every student.

According to the headmistress of the school, Rowena Seymour, a decision was taken to build the new block in June 2022. Prior to this, some students were forced to attend school on a rotation basis.

“Grade Seven students reported for two days while Grade Eight students reported for three days. Parents were frustrated with this system but were pleased when the teachers used the blended teachers approach to reach the students. Teachers also used worksheets to assist with covering topics during missed days,” Seymour said.

The project to construct the modern two-storey concrete structure was executed by Singh and Son’s Construction.

Source: https://newsroom.gy/2023/10/25/adequate-space-now-as-st-winefrides-school-gets-85m-new-wing/

Education Minister Priya Manickchand on Friday commissioned the new building for the Haslington Nursery School located in Region Four on the East Coast of Demerara.

The cost to construct the new school totaled twenty-eight million, one hundred and twenty-nine thousand dollars ($28,129,000).

Delivering the feature address, Minister Manickchand encouraged those parents present that they need to play a greater role in the lives of their children so that their children can receive an education.

She urged the teachers to continue working with their children so that they can produce children who 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.

Further, Minister Manickchand said that the Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Education will continue to support teachers and students. 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. This amounts to a total of $240,000 per child term at $4000 per child.

Minister 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. So, it is far more than a building, but it must have begun with a building,” she noted.

The Education Minister said that the Government of Guyana is investing in children across Guyana and will continue to do so to produce the quality of citizens that can further develop and move Guyana forward.

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

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.”

He said Nursery education is paramount in developing a well-rounded child.

Persaud applauded the Regional Administration and the Department of Education for 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, Mr. Adrian Elgin 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 received a brand-new nursery school.

Source: https://newsroom.gy/2023/09/29/haslington-gets-new-28m-nursery-school/

Pupils in Kokshebai, South Pakaraimas will no longer have to walk for miles to receive an education with the commissioning of a school in their village.

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand along with Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall  commissioned the Kokshebai Nursery School on Tuesday during a visit to the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo region.

A release from the Ministry of Education said that the Kokshebai Nursery School was constructed by Osbert Rebeiro at a cost of $14 million.

Previously, the pupils navigated  the rough terrain for more than five miles as they travelled to Taushida, a neighbouring village for their education. 

Delivering remarks, Manickchand stated that ensuring each child receives an education regardless of their geographic location remains a top priority for the Government. She told parents that the Government firmly believes that once given the resources, the children of the hinterland can achieve the same success as those on the coast.

The Education Minister said that the Ministry’s Breakfast programme will be extended to the village, textbooks will be given to each pupil and in July, each school-aged child will receive $40,000 through the Because We Care cash grant programme.

While in the village, Ministers Manickchand and Dharamlall commissioned a health facility, the release said. Residents will not have to travel to neighbouring villages to access basic healthcare.

Source: https://www.stabroeknews.com/2023/02/26/news/guyana/nursery-school-launched-at-kokshebai/

There are likely to be “major changes” governing School Based Assessments (SBAs), Minister of Education Priya Manickchand said on Monday.

“…Guyana is going to change the way we treat SBAs (school-based assessments). It can’t be just for the sake of doing them and it has to be done well and properly.

“We have to have some guidelines for teachers …and for parents and students…about when they receive them, when they are looked at, how they are corrected, the timelines and so on. So we are looking at some of those institutional changes right now,” Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand said on Monday.

She was at the time speaking to reporters at the sidelines of the commissioning of the Mrs Maureen Massiah wing at the Bishop’s High School in Georgetown.

According to Manickchand, the aim is to change the way in which these assessments are conducted, submitted and even marked.

Once done, this is expected to be ease the burden often faced by students preparing to sit the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations, allowing them more time for practical exposure.

Manickchand said she has had discussions with the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), specifically as it relates to the large volume of SBAs required to be completed by secondary school students, particularly those in the science stream.

Source: https://newsroom.gy/2023/09/12/major-changes-governing-sbas-likely-education-minister/

Over 500 Christ Church Secondary students displaced by Thursday’s fire will take part in online classes until an appropriate facility can be found to house them.

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, along with senior officers of the Ministry of Education (MoE), yesterday met with the teachers and ancillary staff of the school to discuss the way forward following the devastating fire on Thursday afternoon.

The meeting was held at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), Kingston.

Manickchand told Stabroek News afterwards that the students will be tutored online while she tries to find a place to accommodate them. She noted that as it relates to ancillary staff,  no one is going to be without a job since the MoE is looking to get the students back to face to face schooling by Monday after next.

The blaze that started at about 5:15pm on Thursday left 502 students, 39 teachers and 9 ancillary staff displaced and had raised growing concerns about protection of schools and other government buildings in the aftermath of a spate of suspicious fires.

A release from the Ministry of Education on the meeting said that Manickchand stated that the List A school has performed well over the years and commended the teachers for their dedication to raising the standard of the institution. She further said that the decisions taken will have to be guided by what is in the best interest in the students enrolled.

The Education Minister said that the ideal preference would be to house all the students in one location.

The release said that during the meeting various options were explored for the placement of students and teachers however, there were no definite decisions made. Manickchand also said that the Ministry will have to meet with the parents and students to discuss the matter further. It was noted that the school’s enrollment records, which were saved as soft copies, will guide the process forward.

In the meantime, teachers were asked to engage their students online until a decision can be made.

Also present at the meeting was the Guyana Teachers’ Union President, Mark Lyte.

Stabroek News spoke to Collin October, 54, who said that he attended the school in the early 80s and the students there would always be in the lab experimenting, but nothing like a fire never happened. “This is really sad to hear that the building burnt down, we just have to pray to God to see what happen next.” 

Lydia Henry whose two nieces, ages 24 and 28, attended the school expressed shock to see that it was burnt down. Henry said that both of her nieces did well at the school and they are working with the Government of Guyana.

“You just have to pray and hope the government rebuilds the building back because a lot of people attended the school”, she said

Source: https://www.stabroeknews.com/2023/01/14/news/guyana/christ-church-students-for-online-classes-in-the-interim/