Faced with a state of disrepair for several years, coupled with concerns from parents about the safety of their children, a new state-of-the-art Arthurville Primary School was commissioned on Tuesday at Wakenaam, Region Three.
President Dr Irfaan Ali and Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand commissioned the $84 million modernised structure in the presence of students, parents and teachers.
Due to the deteriorated condition of the school, a decision was taken in May 2022 to demolish the structure and build a new one.
During that time, teachers and pupils were relocated to the lower flat of the Sans Souci Primary School.
Construction on the new structure commenced in January 2023 by Mohammed Sidique Ramson Contracting Services.
In delivering the feature address, President Ali said the government has been making significant investments in the education sector to ensure that every child receives a high-quality education.
And because of the investment, President Ali said more teachers are being trained and they can now stay on the island and earn a degree and master’s, enhancing their career.
“If your children are comfortable, they are more receptible.
“You see education is not a school building. Education is a system and every aspect of the system must work in order to deliver better equality education,” President Ali said.
The Head of State noted that coming out of a study launched by the government, Cabinet is currently working on a programme to enhance more than 20 teachers’ quarters and dormitories.
“This school today gives this generation of children a better opportunity…That is why the country we are building tomorrow must be critically connected to the education we are delivering today,” he said.
Meanwhile, in her remarks, Manickchand said apart from enhanced infrastructure, there have been educational advancements at every level.
“Today as we commission this school….The President is giving you the opportunity to make sure these children are better than all of us. The opportunity to make sure that they can live their full life, to their full potential,” Manickchand said.
She added, “The opportunities for these children to become whatever it is they want to become but for sure to have a life of plenty, to not have a life of want. To be able to participate fully all over Guyana.”
The school consists of classrooms, a fully equipped Information Technology (IT) laboratory, a head teacher’s office, a staff room, a kitchen and washroom facilities.
It is among a series of others commissioned by the Ministry of Education in recent times, to ensure every child has access to education in a comfortable environment.
