$360M state-of-the-art TVET facility commissioned in Bartica

Guyana’s education system took a major leap forward with the commissioning of a cutting-edge Practical Instruction Department (PID) at Bartica Secondary School, a $360M investment designed to equip the next generation with job-ready technical and vocational skills.
The facility is the sixth of its kind under the Guyana Skills Development and Employability Project (GSDEP), a joint initiative between the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the Government of Guyana aimed at modernising education and addressing workforce gaps. The project has already delivered similar centres in Fellowship, Hopetown, Beterverwagting, St Ignatius, and Mabaruma.
At the commissioning ceremony, Education Minister Priya Manickchand called the facility a beacon of opportunity and inclusion, highlighting the ministry’s success in delivering five such centres in under three years, even amid post-pandemic challenges.
“We are not just building schools; we are building futures,” Minister Manickchand said. “TVET is no longer an alternative path – it is an essential one.”
Constructed by KP Thomas and Sons and supervised by CEMCO Engineering, the Bartica PID includes a commercial food preparation kitchen with all the necessary equipment found in a professional culinary environment. The motor vehicle and small engine workshop includes hydraulic lifts, a digital wheel alignment system, and diagnostic tools capable of servicing everything from family cars to heavy-duty machinery.
The welding workshop is outfitted for arc, MIG, and acetylene welding, while the furniture-making workshop features high-grade saws and woodworking equipment. There is also a masonry and plumbing workshop with everything from tile cutters to concrete vibrators. Additionally, the facility boasts a rehabilitated smart classroom equipped with computers, a smartboard, and Starlink internet to support digital learning.
In total, $273 million was spent on construction and supervision, with an additional $87 million on outfitting the facility with modern tools and equipment, bringing the total investment to more than $360M. The project falls under GSDEP, which is funded through a US$14.04 million partnership between the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the Government of Guyana. Of this, US$11.7 million came from the CDB loan facility, US$552,000 from a grant, and US$1.79 million in counterpart funding from the Government of Guyana.
The Minister also weighed in on the global shift toward valuing skilled trades on par with traditional degrees, noting that demand for TVET competencies is growing across sectors from construction to renewable energy.
The Bartica PID is now open and will begin welcoming students in the new academic term.