Better accommodations for teachers, students in Region Seven

Improving access to secondary education in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) is underway with a new Bartica student dormitory as well as other supporting facilities currently under construction.

According to Education Minister Priya Manickchand, this is part of efforts to ensure the nation acquires universal secondary education. During a visit to the region on Monday, Manickchand along with members of the media, visited the dormitory. Manickchand said several dormitories and teachers’ quarters are under construction, making access to education and work easier for the residents of the region.

“We have seen better retention already in the primary school because now children know there will be a secondary school to go to. We are seeing better attendance, [and] we attribute that to not only [to] better schools but things like breakfast and the cash grant, trained teachers in the classroom, teachers in front of the classroom and so we expect to see the system do much better,” she stated.

The government injected some $423 million into the project at Bartica where the new building and rehabilitation work for the existing dormitory is being done. Construction work is also underway to build a small dorm and a teachers’ quarters at Jawalla along with dorms at Phillipai, Issano and Karrau.

The project is being executed by Dijiris Engineering and Construction and supervised by Deen and Partners and when completed, the facilities will meet international standards for dormitories here. Manickchand noted that ensuring there is proper ventilation, lights and other things children need in such a facility is mandatory for proper living accommodations.