GIVEN the integral role that education plays in the growth of the country’s economy, the Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Education, continues to invest significantly in the sector’s development.
The Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand recently conducted an inspection at the site for the $560.7 million St. Mary’s Secondary School.
The modern state-of-the-art, three-story facility with a capacity for over 600 students is said to house classrooms for information and communication technology (ICT), science and technology, home economics, and industrial arts on the top floor, 12 on the middle floor, and six laboratories on the lower floor.
St. Mary’s Secondary, like all the other secondary schools that are being constructed right now by the People’s Progressive Party Civic government, will have several fire safety features, such as escape doors, fire alarms, fire extinguishers, and fire escape exits.
In addition, metal ceilings, fire-resistant ceiling panels, and minimal use of wood are all features of the building design, as are an auditorium, a canteen, a sanitary facility, and a teachers’ staff room.
According to a report from the signing ceremony in June of last year, in order to facilitate speedier completion, the work was divided into six lots.
K&S General Construction Inc. was given the building’s lot one, which is worth $286.194 million, and is responsible for the superstructure’s construction. The $135.59 million Lot Two Block Works was also awarded to the same company.
Also given to A. Ograsein and Sons General Contracting were lot three, which consists of plumbing work, and lot five, which consists of outside work, valued at $33.38 million and $12.97 million, respectively.
For lot four, which contains electric works, Cummings Electrical Company Ltd. was granted a contract worth $25.868 million, and for lot six, which includes finishing works, R&D Engineering Services was awarded a contract worth $66.663 million.
During the simple signing ceremony last year, Minister Manickchand made a brief statement, noting that the contracts signed would bring the secondary school closer to realising the ministry’s goal of achieving universal secondary education.
According to the minister, the Ministry of Education has been working extremely hard over the past three years to achieve that goal by rebuilding and expanding several secondary schools in addition to establishing a number of new secondary schools.
Ensuring that every child benefits from a comfortable learning environment in the country, the Government of Guyana continues to fund other schools, including Christ Church, Karasabai Secondary, Tuschen Secondary, Northwest Secondary, Hosororo Secondary, St. George’s High, and North Ruimveldt Secondary.
Further, new schools will also be constructed this year in several locations, including, but not limited to, Aishalton, Christianburg, Jawalla, Kopinang, Micobie, Kuribrong, Lake Mainstay, Pennack, Red Creek, Foulis, Mibicuri, and Tuschen.
