Gov’t to upgrade dorms, teachers quarters but needs another $11B

The Irfaan Ali-led administration plans to upgrade dorms, teachers quarters and all other educational facilities across Guyana at soonest but $11 billion in supplementary funding is needed to execute these plans.

This was announced by President Dr. Irfaan Ali on Thursday, as he addressed the commissioning ceremony of the new Abram Zuil Secondary School on the Essequibo Coast.

Dr. Ali said Cabinet examined a survey conducted on all educational facilities across the country earlier that day. After completing that examination, it was decided that $11 billion is needed to upgrade all of those facilities to a “minimum” standard.

And the Head of State explained that the government will be approaching the National Assembly for a supplementary budget.

“This is for education alone. That is to bring our existing facilities, our teachers quarters to a minimum standard. It will cost us $11B Guyana dollars,” President Ali said.

He added, “So you are going to see in our next supplementary provision, we are going to go to have a chunk of these resources ready to support this investment of $11 billion across the country”.

The investment, Dr Ali said, will see the retrofitting, maintenance and renovation of all educational facilities in every region across the country.

“Whether it’s dorms, hostels, teachers quarters, schools-nursery, secondary and primary,” he noted.

Additionally, the investment into the upgrades will form part of a “multi-year, multi programme” agenda for education development locally.

The survey which helped to determine the investment needed was conducted in the third quarter of 2022. Health facilities across the country were also examined.

Meanwhile, President Ali also said Cabinet is exploring how it can ensure teachers are on a standard basic minimum wage.

“.…To avoid the disparity that exists, we are going to correct that from 2020 to now,” the President said.

He added, “It is important that as we develop that we give our people better and better service. Deliver better and better outcomes for the people of our country.”