MINISTER of Education Priya Manickchand recently spent four days in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo Region (Region Nine), where she engaged directly with educators, students and parents to assess and celebrate the strides being made in education, particularly in some of the country’s most remote communities.

As part of her visit, Minister Manickchand toured the villages of Aishalton, Para Bara, Shea, Awarewaunau, Maruraunau, Achawib, and Bashaizon, each of which proudly boasts a functioning primary school with its own dedicated library.

“This achievement is part of a major push by the Ministry of Education to ensure that every primary school in Guyana, including those in hinterland and riverine areas, has access to a fully stocked library,” the ministry said in a Facebook post adding that these libraries are not just spaces with books, but they are vibrant reading corners filled with titles that capture the imagination of young readers.

Popular books such as ‘Dog Man,’ ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid,’ and ‘Junie B. Jones’ line the shelves, inviting children to dive into stories that are known to spark curiosity, inspire joy and foster a life-long love for reading.

In September 2024, the National Literacy Department of the MoE, launched the Primary School Libraries initiative which ensures that every primary school is stocked with a wide selection of classic, and contemporary literature for children. It is also part of a larger effort to eliminate illiteracy.

Described as more than spaces with books, the libraries are said to be vibrant reading corners, filled with titles that capture young readers’ imagination.

This significant and impactful initiative is “deeply personal” to the education minister, who has a strong belief that the ability to read, as well as the joy of reading should be within the reach of every child, regardless of their location.

The literacy push also forms part of the ministry’s commitment to closing the educational gap between urban and rural areas.

According to the MoE, by providing equitable access to resources, it is creating more inclusive learning environments for children and giving each child across Guyana fair opportunities to thrive.