PARENTS in Region 8 (Potaro-Siparuni) are concerned about their children’s schooling as the Paramakatoi Secondary is faced with a host of problems due to the limited supply of electricity to the building.
Over the years, parents have been reiterating the dreadful condition at the school although the Government had taken initiatives to improve the situation.

Paramakatoi is the largest village in Region 8 but less focus had been placed on enhancing its only school. The village is home to nearly 1,000 people and children from various parts of the region – Kato, Monkey Mountain and Mahdia, among others – attend the school which is divided into Nursery, Primary and Secondary.
The population of the school is 500, with the majority of its students coming from the Paramakatoi village itself. Students from outside of Paramakatoi are positioned in dormitories right beside the school.
Most of the complaints have been focussed at the secondary school since parents are concerned about the quality of education being delivered due to the limited supply of electricity.
The delivery of quality education at the school has been affected since without electricity there is no internet access and this contributes to the gap in the quality of education delivered to students on the coastland and those in Region 8.
NO ELECRTICITY FOR COMPUTER LAB
One parent, who identified herself as “Janet”, told this publication that the school has one computer lab that has not been functioning for a while because of the unavailability of electricity during the day. The computers are nevertheless in good condition to carry out tasks but there is no electricity to power the systems.
This newspaper was made to understand that the community itself does not receive electricity at all with the exception of the dormitories that would channel current into the school. Electricity in the dormitories is being supplied by one generator which is activated after school hours until 10:00hrs.
“This makes no sense at all! How will the students use the lab if the current comes on after school?” questioned a concerned Janet.
Another parent, who identified herself as “Rowena” pointed out that the school in its current form has only one Information Technology (IT) teacher which makes it impossible for that person to teach some 470 students.
Without practical lessons, IT is not properly delivered. In this regard, Rowena said the teacher has been depending solely on textbooks and this is a disadvantage to the students. Moreover, the school is not properly equipped with textbooks.

Rowena made a startling declaration whereby she noted that the school’s only IT teacher would be resigning soon which will leave the school without an IT teacher. Therefore, like any other school, Paramakatoi Secondary will have to get a replacement.
Though a vacancy will be advertised, Rowena pointed out that teachers may refuse to take up the job mainly because the village has neither electricity nor internet access.
Recently, the President of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), Mark Lyte pointed out that the Union’s new multi-year agreement will negotiate a 150% increase in station allowances and hardline allowances, so that teachers from the hinterland can move freely to the coastland, and vice versa.
In investigating the operations of other teachers at the school, this newspaper was made aware that they have to travel for half an hour to an internet café in order to gather teaching materials (information) to deliver to the students on the following day. The internet café is, however, costly as most teachers find it difficult to keep up with the expense.
Janet among several other concerned parents suggested that the lab should be solar-powered to solve the electricity problem.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Dr Rupert Roopnaraine has placed the issue of quality educators and equity in the school system high on his agenda.
By Shivanie Sugrim