‘It’s been rough’ – Manickchand says children affected by overpopulated schools
…but promises relief once new schools are opened
Education Minister Priya Manickchand on Tuesday highlighted how difficult learning and engagement has been in some overpopulated schools but she promised relief is forthcoming with the construction of several new schools.
The ministry is building new schools, reconstructing schools damaged or destroyed by fire and extending some schools to accommodate more learners.
And by the end of this year, at least another 11 secondary schools should be opened and ready for use.
“With those secondary schools being built, we should be able to accommodate children all across the country,” she said during a contract signing ceremony for the construction of the new St. Mary’s Secondary School at Brickdam, Georgetown.
Getting more schools to accommodate learners is part of the ministry’s plans to improve access to education across the country. Manickchand believes that with several new secondary schools, Guyana would inch closer to achieving universal secondary education.
Opening these schools is also helping to solve current overpopulation woes.
The Education Minister said in some schools, children only attend classes for half day or for half the school week because they are on rotation. At the Queenstown Secondary School in Georgetown, for example, the students only go to school for half of the week.
These measures were implemented to help accommodate children displaced by fire or in response to a growing population. And Manickchand acknowledged that these arrangements impact students’ learning.
“Right now we are struggling, CXC is finishing and we are sweating about placing children in Region Three but with the advent of the Tuschen (Secondary School), once that’s finished within a year, it is going to be significantly different.
Asked if secondary school students have been unable to complete their curricula because of these arrangements, Manickchand said, “It’s been really, really rough.”
Already, the St. Rose’s High School, the Good Hope Secondary School and the Abram Zuil Secondary School are completed or near completion.
The St George’s High School, Christ Church Secondary School, North Ruimveldt Secondary School and North West Secondary School are currently being rebuilt after they were ravaged by fires.
Further new schools will be built at Hosororo, Kwebana, and Waramuri in Region One (Barima -Waini); two new schools will be built in Region Three (Essequibo Islands- West Demerara); one secondary school will be built in Orealla, Region Six (East Berbice- Corentyne); and in Region Seven (Cuyuni- Mazaruni) there will be a school at Jawalla in the Upper Mazaruni area.
In Region Eight (Potaro- Siparuni), the dormitories at Paramakatoi and Kato will be extended. Schools in Georgetown like Queen’s College and the Bishop’s High School are being extended.
