A pathway for technical & vocational training as new $346M North West Secondary school opens

Years after it was destroyed in a fire, a new North West Secondary school was on Monday commissioned in Region One with a new culture allowing students to explore more opportunities to be qualified in technical areas.

“By 2030,  for all the major centers in the hinterland communities, we want state-of-the art practical instruction centers and technical institutions that will give you world-class certification from right here in your communities

“So if you are a welder, you must be able to get the highest qualification in welding. If you are an electrical technician, you must you must get highest certificate. That is the vision that we are bringing. And every one of you will be fully absorbed in this economy,” President Dr Irfaan Ali said on Monday.

In delivering the feature address at the commissioning ceremony, Dr Ali said through investments in digital education, every child will soon be able to benefit from the highest quality of education.

“Education is very complex. Education is integrated in every aspect of national life.

“So we are building this infrastructure for all of CARICOM,” President Ali said.

From 2020 to date, President Ali noted that the government has invested $7 billion to enhance the education sector in Region One. This includes the distribution of school cash grants and the breakfast programme.

“For every single child in this country, the government is investing $700,000 per child annually.

“This is not a gift to you….this is what you deserve for you hard work,” Dr Ali said.

The new North West Secondary school was rebuilt to the tune of $346 million dollars.

The previous structure was destroyed on September 24, 2021, displacing hundreds of students and placing a strain of the region’s education sector.

The school has the capacity to house some 574 students. Its amenities include 23 classrooms, 3 laboratories, 2 elevators, a staff room, 4 canteens and a sick bay. The building was also constructed to include fire safety mechanisms including 11 fire alarms and several fire extinguishers.

It also includes a practical instruction department, which, according to Minister of Education Priya Manickchand is better equipped than any other currently in the country.

And so add a new culture to the almost 60 year-old school, Chief Education Office, Saddam Hussain said students will be allowed to choose from a variety of educational pathways at an early stage including the introduction of the Carribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence Programme which is expected to be rolled out in January 2025.

“So what will happen is this: students in Grade 7 and 8 will be doing the CCSLC (Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence) programme, a new programme being offered by the Minsitry of Education through the Caribbean Examination Council.

“This school comes with a well-equipped practical instruction center. What that means is that when your children enter Grade 9, they have a choice. They could do the traditional CSEC subjects and go on and write CSEC and get their 5 subjects or they can take the pathway called CVQ- the Carribbean vocational qualification,” Hussain explained on Monday.

The school is equipped through the Technical Industrial center to offer training in five areas: motor vehicle repairs, commercial food preparation, data processing, general office administration and electrical installation.

The aim, Saddam said is to offer opportunities that will offer qualifications that are not only accepted in Guyana but across the Caribbean.

“You want for your children the same thing I want for mine…that they have a better life that we had,” Manickchand said.