The Yarrowkabra Secondary School was officially commissioned on Thursday. The idea for the school was conceived to achieve universal secondary education in Guyana.
Completed in 2023 after construction began in 2020, the school was initially funded by an $826.7M contract signed with BK International under the previous administration, though this contract was later terminated by the current administration.
The school features eleven departments focusing on core areas such as entrepreneurship, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEAM), and TVET. With a dedicated staff of 65 teachers, the school also offers programs in volunteerism, various sports, and foreign languages.
For a highly educated workforce, President Dr. Irfaan Ali believes it is crucial to introduce non-traditional subjects such as entrepreneurship and innovation in schools. While delivering the keynote address at the commissioning ceremony, the President emphasized the importance of adapting to rapid technological changes and a modern economy.
“By investing in such schools is investing in the intellectual capital of our nation,” President Ali said. He also commended the education ministry for their efforts to ensure that every child benefits from the same quality and delivery of education.
“We are here celebrating education, not the building alone because the infrastructure is just one component in delivering higher education,” the Head-of-State said. He added that a comfortable learning environment with trained teachers is also vital.
“We can have the best environment and the best facility but if we do not also invest in the human resources to help then we will have a mismatch,” Dr. Ali said. President Ali assured that his government will continue to invest in innovation and build facilities so that every child can access quality education.
“We firmly believe that universal access to secondary education should not be considered optional,” the President said. He explained that education should be a fundamental right, not a privilege, and should be extended to all.
The President opines that for students to be effectively engaged and thrive in a modern economy, graduating from secondary school is imperative. At the same time, nursery and primary institutions will also be enhanced to ensure a well-rounded society.
The government is also exploring additional ways to support professional parents, especially single parents, to ensure their children receive the necessary support in school. The need to send children far from home to access top-notch education will also be alleviated with the construction of 26 secondary schools across the country.
“Our vision is to create an environment where families can constantly expect quality education right in their regions,” the President said.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Priya Manickchand, in her remarks, stated that the ministry will soon bid for additional classrooms to accommodate more students. With the completion of the Yarrowkabra School, several primary tops along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway were closed.
“The only sure way we know to change your life, to make sure your children have a life better than yours, to make sure they are not living a life of want is to educate them,” Minister Manickchand said. She also emphasized that it is not just about building schools but ensuring that teachers are well-trained.
“We currently have 100 per cent of our teachers trained or in training,” Manickchand said. The ministry is now addressing transportation issues for students and has urged those responsible for the school to take good care of it to ensure its longevity for future generations.
