New secondary schools to bring relief to students – Parag

Guyana is preparing to bring several new secondary schools on stream before year end, an undertaking that will allow students to learn better, according to Education Minister Sonia Parag.

Parag recently said the country is moving closer to achieving universal secondary education and the completion of several new secondary schools this year will ensure that every child has access to a place in secondary education, fulfilling a major commitment by President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s administration.

“While the five national schools have served well, at the end of this year Guyana will achieve universal access to secondary education with the completion of several infrastructure and that is a vision of His Excellency,” Parag said.

Each year, the limited capacity at the country’s top secondary schools has placed enormous pressure on the NGSA placement process.

“You do not know the pressure when it comes to NGSA and trying to place all of those students who made it into the national schools to fit into the national schools,” Parag said.

As thousands of students compete for a small number of coveted spaces, new schools were built and equipped with resources to ensure that no matter which school a student is placed at, they receive the best possible education.

The aggressive school construction programme allows for the expansion of secondary schools across the country and 33 of these are expected to be commissioned throughout 2026.

Parag said the expansion is about more than accommodating students.

“Access doesn’t just mean a space. Access also means that you can have an environment in which you are comfortable,” she said.

With the additional schools coming on stream, the government expects to reduce overcrowding, eliminate the need for many students to travel long distances for secondary education.