– Education Minister during consideration of estimates of expenditure
Minister of Education Shaik Baksh during the consideration of the estimates of expenditure for 2010, noted that Government is looking to increase and improve guard service in Georgetown schools so that they can benefit from 24-hour security.
He said some schools are benefitting from the 24-hour guard service while others have only evening guards.
People’s National Congress Reform Member Amna Ally suggested that the 24-hour service be provided for all schools.
Meanwhile, the opposition MPs continued to seek clarification and wanted to know why there was a delay in the commencement of construction of the two technical institutes in Regions 3 and 5.
The Minister noted that the Ministry had encountered difficulties in obtaining the requisite land for the construction of the institutions. While Leonora was on track, the site for Region 5 was not acquired and the Caribbean Development Bank, which is funding the institutions construction in collaboration with Government, wanted work on both projects to commence simultaneously.
The Ministry was able to secure the land at Park, Mahaicony, and construction will commence and conclude this year. The contracts for the construction of both institutions were signed last week.
Ally also inquired whether the Ministry had conducted a survey in all the schools to ascertain the need for furniture.
Minister Baksh stated, “The Honourable Member will know that we are at present conducting a survey of all the schools in Georgetown to assess needs for the next school year. We have procured a lot of furniture for the first term of school to satisfy the needs of the system… but we are already doing a survey in the schools of Georgetown and the Regions.” (GINA)