Delayed reopening for 8 schools amid ongoing construction works

Several schools will face a delayed reopening for the new school year, amid ongoing infrastructural works which could not be completed on time.
This announcement was made on Saturday by the Education Ministry.
In 2023, Government commenced its largest effort to improve education by renovating, rehabilitating, repairing, and building more than 1100 institutions across the country.
In a memorandum issued by the Chief Education Officer, Saddam Hussain, he updated that the majority of schools will reopen on Monday, September 4. However, Uitvlugt Secondary Annex, Stewartville Secondary, Vryheid’s Lust Primary, Maria Henrietta Primary, Tucville Primary, Tucville Secondary and St Rose’s High School are slated for reopening on September 11, 2023.
Alexander Village Nursery will be reopened until October 2, 2023.
According to the Education Ministry, “Unfortunately, contractors at the schools mentioned were unable to complete their tasks.”
Stakeholders have been reassured that arrangements will be made to cater for any losses in instructional time.
The Georgetown Education District has faced serious space constraints after fires destroyed St George’s High School, North Ruimveldt Secondary School and Christ Church Secondary.
Over $668 million in contracts have been signed to rebuild Christ Church Secondary School, which was also gutted by a fire in January.
This, along with the reconstruction of North Ruimveldt Secondary School, St Rose’s High School, extensions at Queen’s College, The Bishops’ High School, East Ruimveldt Secondary School and St Winefride’s Secondary School, will see the space issues in the Georgetown District being addressed.
Completion of Good Hope Secondary School saw space issues along the East Coast while the completion of Yarrowkabra Secondary School will address the said issue for the Upper East Bank Demerara area.
Other schools being built are $1.9 billion Kopinang Secondary School (Region Eight), the $2.5 billion Hosororo Secondary School (Region One), the $2 billion Kwebanna Secondary School (Region One), the $2 billion Jawalla Secondary School (Region Seven) and the $978.6 million contract to construct a modern school building/complex to house 800 students, Tuschen, West Coast Demerara.
Back in 2022, Education Minister Priya Manickchand had announced the impending construction of a number of schools including secondary schools at Turkeyen (East Coast Demerara) and Orealla (East Berbice-Corentyne). And with the construction of new secondary schools across Guyana, Manickchand had said last year that universal secondary education will be a reality by 2025. (G12)