* $32.2B for education, 2013 allocation was $28.5B

* US$10M Universal Secondary Education initiative

* $450M for UG student loan programme

* $1.4B for UG campuses

THE Education sector was allocated the lion’s share of the 2014 Budget-32.2B, which was presented to the National Assembly on Monday by the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh.And the monies are expected to go towards the implementation of year one of the new Education Strategic Plan for 2014 to 2018 and other aspects of the education system.
Singh said: “The new Education Strategic Plan for 2014 to 2018 is currently being finalised and is anticipated to focus on improving literacy rates, early childhood development, teacher training, enrolment in single sciences, technical vocational educational programmes, and more structured partnerships with private sector providers and parents.
“…support will be given to develop strategic plans for ministries and regions and for the first time regional action plans will be formulated to support the consistent roll out of the new five year strategic plan for education sector.”

AREAS OF SUPPORT
The minister explained that in 2014, some $2.9B will be dedicated towards the construction, rehabilitation, extension and maintenance of our educational facilities including a new and expanded Zeeburg Secondary School and the Kato Secondary complex.
In addition, the monies are expected to facilitate the implementation of a US$10M Universal Secondary Education initiative, which will facilitate the construction of new secondary schools and provision of materials for improved teaching techniques and technology assisted learning in mathematics.
Singh said: “Our teachers’ training college will continue to offer their existing programmes, as well as focus on the appraisal and development of their lecturers including having some teachers pursue postgraduate degrees.”
Works are also expected to intensify to eliminate illiteracy and strengthen public awareness to ensure that parents understand their vital role in the literacy development of their children.
In the area of ICT, Government will allocate resources to ensure that an additional 2,500 teachers are trained, and all of our secondary schools are equipped with computer laboratories before the end of 2014.”
“We recognise that equipping our young people with technical vocational education training (TVET) skills linked with entrepreneurship training is an assured option for enabling their viability, and this year we will expand opportunities to include occupational programmes to support the mining and hospitality industries,” the minister added.
Continued emphasis is also expected to be placed on tertiary education with an allocation of $1.4B towards the operation of both campuses of the University of Guyana, inclusive of $450M for our student loan programme.
“Later this year our students will have the option of online degree programmes for the first time ever. Also, through the University of Guyana Science and Technology Support initiative 14 science and technology buildings will be rehabilitated and equipped and a feasibility study for the new Centre of Excellence for the Study of Biodiversity will commence. Futher, 17 programmes have been identified for curriculum reform which will be designed and tested over a three-year period,” Singh disclosed,

WORK IN 2013
Last year the education sector received an allocation of $28.5B.
The Finance Minister pointed out the many works undertaken last year.
A sum of $2.7B was spent on the infrastructure of schools and other educational facilities, including commencing the reconstruction of One-Mile Primary School, La Venture Secondary School and Parfaite Harmonie Primary.
Additionally, the $50M Harold B. Davis Special School for differently-abled children was commissioned in January this year. In addition 16 secondary computer labs were completed as part of our efforts to ensure all secondary schools have access to IT.
Another $35.2M was expended towards the commencement of the University of Guyana Science and Technology Support initiative, while $50M was made available to ensure greater access to tertiary level education via online programmes.
In the area of teacher training Government continued the upgrading programme in the communities in Regions 1, 8 and 9 permitting more hinterland persons to be eligible to access the Trained Teacher’s Certificate Programme and under which 159 teachers were certified in 2013.
Additionally 177 teachers have entered the system as trained teachers from the Cyril Potter’s College of Education (CPCE).
Singh said: “Over $1B was expended on the National School Feeding Programme to the benefit of over 65,000 children, while $208M was spent on the National Uniform Programme, benefitting over 139,000 children in our efforts to ensure improved attendance and attentiveness in the classroom.”
Last year also, a five per cent increase in salaries was granted to teachers in the public education system with effect from January 2013, following an agreement between the Government and the Guyana Teachers Union for the years from 2011 to 2015.
“Government has already made significant investments in the education sector, seeking to ensure universal access, and to raise both quality of delivery and attainment rates. The result has been the achievement of universal primary education and significant progress towards achieving universal secondary education,” the minister said.
He maintained that the Guyana envisioned by the current Administration is one where every single Guyanese person has access to social services of a suitably high quality, and where national education attainment indicators meet international standards.

(By Ravin Singh)