Children who reside in the community of Swan on the Linden/ Soesdyke Highway, East Bank Demerara (EBD), will no longer need to travel along dangerous tracks to attend classes now that the community has a new primary school.
The school was commissioned by Minister of Education Priya Manickchand and Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Nigel Dharamlall on Tuesday.
Swan, an Amerindian community, did not have a primary school for the children of villagers to attend before now. Instead, the children had to journey along tracks and shortcuts to get to the neighbouring schools at Yarrowkabra and Kuru Kuru.
The Local Government and Regional Development Minister said residents asked President Dr. Irfaan Ali to build a school in the community to their minds because of the dangers posed by the young children travelling out of the village.
Soon after, construction of the school started. It was subsequently opened on September 5, 2022 and has six teachers, four of which are trained while two of them are in training. It can accommodate 109 pupils.
Minister Manickchand, in brief remarks, said her ministry and by extension the government, fulfilled a long-awaited promise.
“You needed a school for the longest while, you’re getting a school now.
“You needed a nursery school for the longest while, you will get one soon,” she told the residents who gathered at the commissioning ceremony.
The new facility was among several schools in Region Four that benefitted from resource procurement undergone by the Ministry, such as books and furniture.
Manickchand reminded all that the Ministry is aiming to have access to equal and equitable education for all children of Guyana.
“Our commitment to you is that as a government, we will not only put the money into infrastructure, but we also have to make sure we’re monitoring to get results from your children.
“If you get Yarrowkabra Secondary you must be able to go there and get Grade Ones, Twos and Threes. That is our aim and our commitment to you,” Manickchand said.
Further, she said parents must also take interests into their children’s education and help them with their homework even if they don’t know the work, they must ensure the work is done, she said.
She asked that parents ensure that these children are given attention and have access to the necessary things to excel in school.