–President Ali says, commissions modernised North West Secondary School at Mabaruma
ENSURING quality and equitable education is delivered to children across hinterland communities in Guyana, President, Dr Irfaan Ali, on Monday said that the government has invested approximately $7 billion dollars to enhance the delivery of education and training in Region One (Barima-Waini).
The Head of State made this disclosure during the commissioning of the North West Secondary School at Mabaruma. In 2021, the school was destroyed by the hands of an arsonist.
Now outfitted with modern amenities, the newly designed institution will not only cater to Mabaruma, but also to all the communities within the sub-region. It will be a centre for opportunities with planned programmes to offer universal education, teachers training and practical-skills development.
“These are the investments that are important for us, not only the physical demonstration of the building, but the physical demonstration of the building means nothing if we don’t invest in the people who must deliver what the building encompasses,” the President said.
Intended to be a catalyst for development and growth, the government, he highlighted, is investing in personal welfare.
“So, by 2030, all the major centres in the hinterland community, we want state-of-the-art practical instruction centres and technical institutions that will give you world-class certification from right here in your communities,” Dr Ali said.
He pointed out too that the government is concurrently investing in the welfare of educators.
The President said: “We want to ensure that every teacher in the hinterland must have the ability to become a trained graduate from right where you teach.”
Ultimately, the government’s aim is to ensure that quality, equitable and dignified services are provided to all Guyanese. It is to this end that he charged the region’s educators to fulfil their mandates of giving the best service to children.
President Ali highlighted, since 2023, $226 million in basic amenities such as chalk and teaching aids were provided to classrooms, and $4 billion for maintenance and construction. Over $80 million has been spent on textbooks and $1 billion on a school-feeding programme.
Further, under the ‘Because We Care’ cash grant initiative, the region has received more than $1.8 billion.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Priya Manickchand disclosed that some five secondary schools are currently under construction in the region.
These institutions, she said, will be modern, top-class institutions that will provide equitable education to children within the region.
She noted too that the government has already highlighted plans to further advance the infrastructure at the North West Secondary School.
President Ali said: “We believe to build out Guyana, to grow this country, we have to get the talent of each and every child, each and every adult; we have to make you the best you can be so that Guyana can benefit. We don’t just see that in every speech, we don’t see that on a poster…we match it with action.”
Following the 2021 fire, students and teachers from the district had been displaced and scattered.
“This, for us, is a dream come true; we have been working very hard to deliver the finished school to you,” Manickchand said.
