THE sod was on Tuesday turned to mark the commencement of construction on a $199 million secondary school for Kopinang Village, Region Eight.

This is according to a press release from the Ministry of Education, which noted that this marked a pivotal moment in Guyana’s educational landscape.
The initiative is part of a comprehensive effort by the Government of Guyana to expand access to secondary education across the country, and underscores an investment in educational infrastructure to the tune of $199,376,751.
“Plans for the Kopinang Secondary School were set in motion following Minister Manickchand’s visit to Kopinang Village last year, where she engaged with local residents and announced the ministry’s commitment to establishing a modern educational facility,” the release said.

This new school is expected to accommodate 250 students upon completion, and will feature amenities such as laboratories like an information technology ‘lab’ and library to ensure a conducive learning environment for students.
According to the Ministry, the Minister emphasised the transformative impact of the school on the community, and added that the children will no longer have to go out of their region to access education.
The contract for the construction of the Kopinang Secondary School was awarded to Sheriff Construction Inc. following a process of competitive bidding.

The release added, “The establishment of the Kopinang Secondary School not only addresses the educational needs of the community, but also supports local economic growth by creating job opportunities, and fostering community development.”
Further to this, it was noted that the contract forms part of a larger allocation of some $407,659,560 set aside for the construction of secondary schools in Region Eight, which reflects to government’s commitment to enhancing hinterland education.
Meanwhile, on Monday, the sod was also turned for the construction of a new secondary school at Monkey Mountain, also in Region Eight, to the tune of $208 million.

The Ministry of Education has embarked on an ambitious programme to construct several secondary schools across the country, supported by a significant allocation of $74.4 billion for educational infrastructure development and maintenance.
This initiative aims to meet the growing demand for secondary education and foster holistic development nationwide.