THE proposed new secondary school at Kato Village in Region 8(Potaro/Siparuni), to cater for some 350 students, has moved a step further to realisation with government’s approval of a contract worth $25.4M.

The funds will provide for consultancy services for the supervision of the construction of the school complex, Secretary to the Cabinet, Dr Roger Luncheon, informed recently at his usual post-Cabinet press briefing.
The scope of work for the project includes 12 classrooms, an industrial arts department, canteen, two science laboratories, an administrative block, computer laboratory, home economics and agriculture departments, facilities for differently-abled persons, sanitary blocks, two multi-purpose rooms, library and research area, and a visual arts department.

A student dormitory, prominent feature in all hinterland schools to facilitate students coming from other villages and satellite communities, would also be constructed to accommodate students.

Moreover, the building will have a dining area, lobby, sleeping area and laundry room; and there will be kitchen and sanitary facilities, along with accommodation for dorm wardens.

According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), under the PPP/C Administration, access to secondary education in hinterland communities has improved significantly over the years; and today there are 13 schools, along with the Anna Regina Multilateral School, providing hinterland students with access to secondary education. The Anna Regina Multilateral, while not in the hinterland, provides access to secondary education for all the Amerindian communities in Region 2.

The provision of universal access to secondary education is among the new wave of commitments that government is committed to achieving; and moreso, to cater for the influx of children coming out of the primary schools now that Guyana has achieved universal primary education, GINA said.