PROVIDING improved social services with adequate infrastructure in hinterland communities is central to Government’s poverty reduction strategy.
AT Tuesday’s session of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) Meeting, Amerindian leaders engaged Ministers of Government on avenues for advancing the delivery of education in hinterland communities.
Owing to the growing population in Amerindian communities and Government’s initiatives, such as the school feeding and school uniform programmes, more students are attending school. As such, communities are requesting extensions of existing school buildings.
Toshaos have also raised the possibility of the construction of additional secondary schools in the hinterland.
Minister of Education Shaik Baksh highlighted that Government is constructing learning institutions, including secondary schools with dormitory facilities, in hinterland communities to meet the needs of the increasing number of students who are now accessing secondary education.
He noted that the Sand Creek Secondary School is 95 percent complete and the dormitory facility is under construction. Among the many secondary schools available to hinterland students are St. Ignatius, Annai, Aishalton, Waramadong, Port Kaituma, Mabaruma and Paramakatoi.
Minister Baksh observed that the Annai and St. Ignatius Secondary Schools have done well at this year’s CSEC examination, with a 70 percent pass rate.
Many students, in the absence of a secondary school, are accessing secondary education from primary schools with secondary departments.

The education sector is challenged with the provision of trained graduate teachers.
Minister Baksh indicated that the Ministry has been trying to offset this through its volunteer programme, but getting people to teach in the hinterland is difficult. He explained that Cabinet also approved issuing a $30,000 housing allowance incentive to attract teachers.
Toshaos suggested that volunteer teachers for the primary level should be recruited and trained from within the community and this was welcomed by Minister Baksh.
Toshaos of riverine communities who benefited from engines thanked the Government since these are used to transport students. Minister Baksh highlighted that he is executing a mapping exercise for hinterland areas to put up to the Government to see how it can assist secondary school children get to school.
In addition, enhanced sanitation and the provision of potable water in secondary schools were applauded.