Almost $200M to be spent on extending ECD, EBD schools

…contract also issued to improve Yarrowkabra Secondary

The Government is looking to invest over $196 million in works to extend three schools in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), with the aim of enhancing the delivery of education.
According to a tender issued by the Region Four Regional Democratic Council (RDC) inviting bids from eligible contractors, works to extend the Diamond Primary School on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) are pegged at $56.2 million, while the extension of the new Diamond-Grove Primary School will cost $60 million.

Meanwhile, planned extension works on the Annandale Secondary School located on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) will cost $80 million. In all three of these contracts, the evaluation of the bids will be done by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).
Additionally, a tender was also issued for lot 2 of works on grilling the doors and windows to laboratories in the Yarrowkabra Secondary School, on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway, to the tune of $10.3 million. In this case, the bids will be evaluated by the Region Four Procurement and Tender Administration Board. All bids must be submitted by April 9, 2024.
The Government had announced it would be injecting $135.2 billion into the education sector for 2024, in furtherance of its drive to realise world-class learning opportunities. As he announced the sum in January, Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh told the National Assembly that the education sector was critical to the realisation of national objectives, especially since every single Guyanese person of working age has an adequate opportunity to acquire the skills needed to acquire a job.
The 2024 budgetary allocation is a stark expansion from the $105 billion spent by the education sector to implement the sector’s various initiatives last year. Resources will be pumped in to expand access by upgrading and expanding infrastructure across the country.
In 2023, several new secondary schools across the country, including Abram Zuil, Good Hope, Yarrowkabra and St Rose’s High, and annexes at the Bishops’ High and Queen’s College, were completed. Works were also advanced at Christ Church, Hosororo, Karasabai, North Ruimveldt, North West, St Mary’s, Tuschen and St George’s High.
Construction will continue at these buildings in 2024, and new secondary schools will be built at Aishalton, Christianburg, Jawalla, Kopinang and Micobie. Sums totalling over $16 billion have been allocated for secondary school buildings.
With an allocation of $3.1 billion, construction of primary schools will begin at Augsburg, Kuribrong, Lake Mainstay, Pennack and Red Creek, among other places. And nursery schools will be built at Foulis, Mibicuri and Tuschen with the $3 billion allocated for nursery schools.
Moreover, rehabilitative works will be done on dormitories and teachers’ living quarters countrywide. In total, rehabilitation and maintenance of school buildings and educational facilities will cost some $28.7 billion. (G3)