THE $27.7M Paruima Primary School in the Upper Mazaruni region is approximately 90 per cent completed, Region Seven Regional Chairman Gordon Bradford said on Tuesday.

Bradford said while the contractor, B&S Contracting Services, is doing the finishing touches within the interior of the school, additional time is required to have the school fully furnished and equipped for effective learning. Additionally, $8M was budgeted for furnishing of the school in the 2018 Budget, the regional chairman noted.

It is anticipated that the school, when completed, will have the capacity to accommodate 250-300 children and will be commissioned in time for commencement of the third school term of the 2017/2018 academic year.
Currently, the pupils of the school are being taught in the old structure, which is not only dilapidated, but is also prone to flooding. The new structure is being constructed on higher ground. The contract for construction of the Paruima Primary School was awarded to B&S Contracting Services last August.

In 2018, the Cuyuni-Mazaruni region will also benefit from the construction of another primary school. The regional chairman explained that the government in its 2018 National Budget approved $28M for the construction of a new primary school at Kamarang.
It was explained that the Kamarang Primary School is currently in a decrepit state. Presently, the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Seven is examining possible sites for the school’s new location.

Bradford noted that it is the intention of the council to have the old structure repaired and used for other purposes in the future.
Additionally, financial provisions have been made for a new dorm at Waramadong and improved facilities at the Desrey Fox Secondary School, formerly known as the Waramadong Secondary School. A four-apartment teacher’s quarters at the Bartica Secondary School will also be completed this year at a cost of $28M, the regional chairman has assured.

In 2018, a total of $2.5B has been allocated for Region Seven, from which $2.2B will go towards current expenditure, while $255M will go towards capital expenditure. The allocated sums will be spent on regional administration and finance, public infrastructure, education delivery and health services.