The Ministry of Education will be constructing a new, modern secondary school in place of the existing but dilapidated St. Mary’s Secondary School at Brickdam, Georgetown.
The Education Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Alfred King told reporters that the new three-storey building will have 22 classrooms and six laboratories, including an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) space.
Importantly, he said the building will be outfitted with the necessary fire prevention equipment.
Six contracts have been awarded to complete various aspects of the project.
K&S General Construction received two contracts valued at $286.1 million and $135.5 million, to construct the super structure and do the block works necessary; A. Ograsein & Sons General Contracting also got two contracts valued at $12.9 million and $33.3 million to execute the plumbing and external works; Cummings Electrical Company got the $25.8 million for electrical works; and R&D Engineering Service Inc got the $66.6 million contract to execute finishing works.
Altogether, the construction of the new school will cost $560.7 million. It should be completed within seven months’ time.
It will then accommodate about 600 students.
Education Minister Priya Manickchand implored the contractors to execute their work on time since Georgetown is among the districts where students are not adequately accommodated.
She, however, noted that construction of the St. Mary’s Secondary Schools and other schools around Georgetown and other parts of the country would help the ministry accommodate children better.
“With those secondary schools being built, we should be able to accommodate children all across the country,” she affirmed.
This is a great initiative. My congratulations go out to President Dr. Irfaan Ali, Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Priya Manikchand and other key stake holders for making this a reality. Do keep up the good work as you keep on keeping on.