Christ Church Secondary School to be rebuilt at same location

Assistant Chief Education Officer, Tiffany Harvey, on Wednesday said the Christ Church Secondary School will be rebuilt at its existing location on Camp and Middle Streets.

The school was destroyed by fire on January 12, affecting some 504 students. Since then, those students and their teachers have been using the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) at Turkeyen, Georgetown.

Harvey, however, said 18 of the 504 students no longer attend the school. Those students were transferred to schools closer to where they live.

But as she received a $4 million donation to replace equipment lost in the fire from CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited (CPGL), Harvey said bids for the reconstruction of the school will be opened in at least two weeks’ time.

“If it is not this weekend, it will be next weekend…we will see the bids out in the newspaper for the rebuilding of Christ Church,” Harvey said.

She later told the News Room that the school will be rebuilt “bigger and better, (with) modern facilities” at the same location.

Once the school is rebuilt, she believes that no other student will be lost.

The Education Minister, Priya Manickchand, previously said the school would only be rebuilt at the same location unless the ministry finds another suitable, more spacious location.

Monies to cater for the reconstruction of the Christ Church and St. George’s Secondary Schools – both destroyed by fire – were included in the 2023 National Budget presented by Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh.

It was found that the Christ Church fire was maliciously set by a person or persons unknown.