Headteacher Audrey Williams-Massiah is doing the most behind the scenes to improve learning and equip the learners of this remote community with a formal education to become qualified professionals.
This September will mark three years since Williams-Massiah became the headmistress at Baramita School, which houses the nursery, primary, and secondary student population.
The Baramita School is located in central Baramita along the airstrip road and comprises three departments—nursery, primary, and secondary—with a total of 657 learners.
Williams-Massiah told the Guyana Chronicle that for the first time, Baramita School will be sitting Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) exams next year.

She reported that 12 students have since registered, and she is both excited and motivated because they would normally have to go to Port Kaituma to stay in a dormitory to write the exams—often resulting in poor attendance.
Williams-Massiah added that, upon returning, many of the students would disappear into the back dams to engage in mining work.
In addition, the educator stated that Form Four and Form Five students’ attendance is poor since they do not attend school regularly. Some own dredges, gifted by their parents, to start small businesses and must oversee the operations, resulting in frequent absences.
Williams-Massiah noted that although there are challenges, there are positives as well. For the first time ever, they will be heading to Georgetown next week to participate in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Guyana Science Fair.
It is considered history in the making—Baramita School placed first when representing the Matarkai sub-district in the region. She said they topped both Moruca and Port Kaituma in the agriculture category.

This accomplishment happened under Williams-Massiah’s captaincy as headmistress, and she is very pleased with the sterling performance of the learners in securing the top position in the region. They will now be heading to the city to compete with schools from Region Four.
In addition, Williams-Massiah stated that Baramita School will, for the first time ever, be sitting the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) exams next week on Wednesday and Thursday, with 62 students registered.
The headteacher pointed out that this year is different—they have arranged for students to be transported from their respective villages, especially to sit for the NGSA exams, since they usually walk for two to three hours to get to school.
She also mentioned that this September will mark two years since the secondary section of the school was separated from the nursery and primary in a building of its own.
She reported that the school is now offering six subjects and has a new curriculum, but still needs teachers for the IT hub and Home Economics sections.

Williams-Massiah added that a new building will be constructed for the nursery department of Baramita School.
Baramita has a population of about 5,000, with 21 satellite villages. Region One has three sub-districts: Mabaruma, Moruca, and Matarkai. Baramita is two hours away by vehicle from Matthews Ridge.
According to Williams-Massiah, Baramita School has 13 teachers, including herself—five trained and eight at Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) level.
She revealed that one of the school’s pressing needs includes an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV), since the teachers have to walk for half an hour to get to the secondary school building from the main nursery and primary compound.
The headteacher added that a bus is also needed to transport learners to the health centre, which is 10 minutes away by vehicle and currently costs $2,000 per trip during emergencies.

Williams-Massiah reported that the school sits on a solar farm, but during the rainy season—which is often—they do not have generator power for days at a time. However, they do have a well, so the water supply is adequate. She resides in the teachers’ quarters.
On another positive note, Baramita School’s attendance has improved significantly over the past three years.
The headteacher stated that the school needs modern buildings to fully accommodate the learners, but she remains optimistic that this will happen sooner rather than later.

Williams-Massiah, originally from North Ruimveldt and a mother of two, describes Baramita as quiet but interesting.
She shared that in recent times, the rates of teenage pregnancy, suicide, and murder have declined. Educational programmes in school aim to raise awareness about health and family life, encouraging school-aged girls to return to school after giving birth.
Williams-Massiah stated that education is the way out of poverty, and acquiring skills to earn in society should be the ultimate goal of youths to ensure a secure future.

She noted that the school holds sessions to encourage learners to make better choices and to stay in school since some Amerindian cultural practices are forced upon them. Many are now choosing to rebel against these and strive for a better life in society.
“As the headteacher, I always rally around the learners to have their best interests at heart in equipping them with education to become professionals within the community,” she said.