— officials inspect facilities ahead of return of 21,250 learners, over 2,300 teachers

By Bebi Shafeah Oosman
WITH the new school year set to begin tomorrow, Member of Parliament (MP) Zamal Hussain and Regional Chairman Junior Basant have embarked on a multi-day exercise across Region Six to ensure schools are fully prepared to welcome learners and teachers.
The exercise saw the officials visiting schools throughout the East Berbice-Corentyne region, checking every nook and cranny, and paying close attention to the overall condition of facilities, ongoing maintenance works, sanitation, classrooms, school compounds and other areas critical to a smooth reopening.
Approximately 21, 250 learners, and over 2,300 teachers are set to restart school within the region.
MP Hussain, who headed the team visiting schools throughout Region Six, underscored the significant investments that have been made to improve educational facilities and create more comfortable environments for both childen and teachers.
“We are here to ensure that the issues they had are fixed, and that come Monday, the 31st of August, there is a smooth reopening of schools in the region,” he said.
According to him, he has observed that the situation at the various schools has improved tremendously since 2020 to now. “We have seen vast changes in the infrastructure within the school compounds; we have seen the changes in the classroom, we have seen new buildings erected in the compounds, and also there is more level of comfort for the teaching staff in the various schools that we visited,” he said.
Hussain stressed that considerable resources have been directed towards upgrading and maintaining schools across the region, including improvements to classrooms, sanitary facilities, school compounds and other critical infrastructure necessary to support teaching and learning.
Against this backdrop, the MP is urging children, teachers and other users of the facilities to take note of the improvements that have been made, stressing that maintenance is equally as important as the investment that would have been incurred.
He pointed out that the upgrades are ultimately intended to benefit the school population, and ensure that students as well as pupils can pursue their education in safe, clean and comfortable surroundings, while teachers are provided with an environment conducive to carrying out their duties.
Hussain further stressed that the headteachers and deputy teachers have an important role to play in the schools “because they have to ensure that the system works for the children. The education system; they have to protect it. That is part of their duty. And the curriculum, too. We have seen excellent results from the children of Region Six, and we want to ensure that continues.”
Meanwhile, Regional Chairman Basant further explained that the ongoing exercise is aimed at ensuring that schools across Region Six are fully prepared to receive learners and teachers when the new school year begins tomorrow.

According to Basant, the visits have allowed the team to assess conditions first-hand, identify any outstanding issues, and ensure that the necessary interventions are carried out ahead of reopening.
“The main objective is to ensure schools are ready for Monday,” he said, adding: “Schools are in utmost preparation; a lot of teachers are in school right now. We have service providers in school right now providing services to aid in the retuning so we can have a smooth transition to aid in the reopening and head into the new term.”
Basant also noted that significant work has been undertaken across schools throughout the region in preparation for reopening, with teachers, regional officials and service providers working together to complete the final arrangements.
He assured parents, learners and teachers that schools across the region are ready for Monday’s reopening, noting that the remaining preparatory works are now being wrapped up.
The Regional Chairman said the focus remains on ensuring that students return to clean, safe and comfortable learning environments and that teachers are provided with the conditions necessary to begin the new academic year smoothly.
He added that the multi-day inspection exercise has also provided officials with an opportunity to engage directly with school administrators and teachers and address matters requiring immediate attention rather than waiting until after the new term begins.