IN keeping with its commitment to improve and enhance education delivery across the nation, the Ministry of Education (MoE) has officially opened bids for contractors to construct five schools in various regions.

According to an invitation to bids (IFB) issued by the MoE and published by several print and online media platforms, reputable contractors are being sought for various works.

Bids for these projects are to be submitted by May 17, 2023 at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) office.

It was stated in the IFB that bidding will be conducted through the National Committee Bidding (NCB) procedures, as specified in the Procurement act 2003 and Regulations 2004.

At a number of lots, works such as: Plumbing, sanitation, electrical, furnishing among others were listed to be done at the Kwebana and Hosororo Secondary in Region One; Jawalla Secondary in Region Seven; Kopinang Secondary in Region Eight and a modern building/ complex which can house 800 hundred students in Tuschen, Region Three.

In November 2022, Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, announced that newly established secondary schools will be constructed in Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara, Georgetown; Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, and Orealla in East Berbice-Corentyne.

Those will be among several secondary schools set to be constructed across the country over the next few years, as part of the MoE’s plan to achieve universal secondary education in Guyana.

Other areas that were earmarked for newly established secondary schools include Hosororo in Region One; Vreed-en-Hoop, Region Three, and Karasabai in Region Nine.

The school at Hosororo will complement the North West Secondary in Mabaruma, which is scheduled to be rebuilt after it was destroyed by fire in September 2021.

In addition to the increased capacity at schools, increased dormitory spaces will be created at the Abram Zuil Secondary School in Region two, at schools in Region Five, and the Paramakatoi and Kato Secondary Schools in Region Eight, while the secondary schools in Region Ten are also scheduled to be rehabilitated.

The expansions and construction are part of the MoE’s plan to widen intake capacity at secondary schools all across the country, given the massive increase in retention of secondary school students currently being experienced.

As a result of effective policies being implemented by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government, more primary school pupils are being retained by the secondary education system. However, this is resulting in overcrowding at several secondary schools; as such, the Ministry has seen the need for a massive rollout to increase capacity.

“Universal secondary education means all over the country children can access a secondary education; that’s not cheap and that’s not easy. [This is] very strategic, well thought out, this is not ‘harem scarem’,” Minister Manickchand commented.