Education Ministry commissions $38M Batavia Nursery School

The community of Batavia is set to benefit from improved educational services following the official commissioning of the first-ever nursery at Batavia Primary School by Education Minister Priya Manickchand, who officially inaugurated the school earlier this week.
Completed at a cost of $38 million, the state-of-the-art facility offers a dedicated space specifically designed for early childhood education while also freeing up resources for primary students.

For years, nursery-aged children in Batavia shared space within the community’s primary school. When the Batavia Primary School opened in 1998, it accommodated a nursery class to provide early childhood education. While this arrangement served the community for many years, it often meant limited space for both age groups.
Speaking at the commissioning on Friday, Minister Manickchand compared the current infrastructure to when the school was a primary school in 1998, noting a significant improvement.
She also emphasised that these schools are not missing out on the upgraded amenities that Georgetown schools have.
“I just want to show you what the children of the Hinterland get. They’re receiving all the resources that we give to every child in Georgetown”.
She further urged that teachers be properly trained, noting that the Education Ministry is moving towards this goal.
In fact, the Hinterland has experienced a vast increase in trained teachers.
“We’ve moved from 43 per cent trained teachers in the Hinterland to 86 per cent trained teachers now, with a larger number, so it’s qualitatively better,” she added.
“And of course, children in the Hinterland not only receive cash grants but actually get more. For example, the Teacher Resources Grant gives each child $5500 in the Hinterland, while on the coast it’s $4500. So, Hinterland education is doing far better, and you’re going to see the results shortly.”