–several other schools on track

STAYING in tune with his emphasis on community involvement, President, Dr Irfaan Ali met with several contractors of the Ministry of Education, engineers, Regional Executive Officers (REOs), and project consultants on Saturday to discuss ongoing educational projects across Guyana.

The meeting, which included Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, provided a platform for contractors to share updates on major projects underway in the country.
Two key projects discussed during the meeting were the rebuilding of Christ Church Secondary School and St. George’s High School, both of which were destroyed by fires in recent years.

President Ali expressed his administration’s emphasis on the education sector, stating, “This sector is very important for us, that is why I am taking the time to come with the ministers to speak directly to you. I am happy that we are all together on all of this.”

In this regard, the President was informed that the construction of the Christ Church Secondary School is on course for completion by November 15, while St. George’s High School will be completed by August 25.

The reconstruction of Christ Church Secondary School, which began in 2023, involved seven contracts totalling $688.159 million.
The new three-storey building will house 20 classrooms and accommodate between 450-520 students. It will feature modern amenities including science labs, IT labs, and new-model classrooms.

Similarly, the rebuilding of St. George’s High School, initiated in June of 2023 with contracts totalling $253.8 million, will result in a two-storey concrete building capable of accommodating 300-400 students.

The new structure will include 12 classrooms on the upper floor and six specialised laboratories on the lower floor, along with enhanced fire-prevention measures.

These projects reflect the government’s commitment to restoring and improving educational facilities affected by unfortunate incidents.
The involvement of local contractors in these significant projects also underscores the administration’s focus on fostering community participation in national development initiatives.

During the meeting, other contractors shared updates on various school projects across Guyana, indicating a broad-based approach to enhancing the country’s educational infrastructure.