THE education sector in Guyana has seen remarkable progress under the current administration, especially in hinterland and riverine communities. At the launch of six new digital channels by the Guyana Learning Channel, Minister of Education Priya Manickchand spotlighted several transformative initiatives implemented over the past five years, calling them the largest investments ever made in the country’s hinterland education system.

One of the most remarkable achievements has been the expansion of the Learning Channel’s reach. When the government took office, only two percent of hinterland and riverine communities had access to this educational resource, and that figure was limited to families who could afford a television, solar panel, and cable services.

Today, that number has soared to 94%, thanks to a strategic nationwide initiative. To achieve this, the government provided television sets to each community, supplied solar panels to power the sets and covered cable costs through a public-procurement process.
According to Minister Manickchand, these efforts represent the most significant investment ever made in hinterland and Indigenous education in the history of Guyana.
“We are paying for cable through a public-procurement process–the e-network–so that you can access all these channels. So, we’ve moved from 2% to 94%,” the education minister said, adding, “I say with confidence and without fear of contradiction that this is the most investment we have made ever in the history of this country in hinterland and indigenous education.”

Beyond digital-learning access, infrastructural development in the education sector has also been a priority. Minister Manickchand revealed that 18 new secondary schools are currently under construction in Regions One, Seven, Eight, and Nine. This represents a ground-breaking increase, considering that Guyana has had only 12 secondary schools in these regions.

The addition of these schools marks a historic commitment to improving educational access and quality for hinterland students.
“For the entire existence of Guyana, we have had 12 secondary schools in those regions, and in one five-year term, we are building 18,” Minister Manickchand stated.
Moreover, the government has also invested greatly in the development of its teachers, with more than 100 additional teacher-training sites being developed, many of which are in hinterland communities.

The expansion of the Learning Channel and the construction of new schools form part of the government’s broader commitment to equitable education. By prioritising accessibility and infrastructure, these efforts seek to ensure that no child is left behind, regardless of their geographical location