Govt commissions spanking new $28M Haslington Nursery School

Education Minister Priya Manickchand on Friday commissioned the spanking new Haslington Nursery School, on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD), which was constructed to the tune of $28,129,000.
Delivering the feature address, the Minister encouraged parents to play a greater role in the lives of their children so that they can receive an education. At the same time, she charged the teachers to continue working with their pupils to ensure that they can read at their grade level.
She noted that this will go a long way in setting the foundation for children to be successful as they move through the school system.
Further, Manickchand said that the Government of Guyana through her Ministry will continue to support teachers and students.

She spoke about the recently distributed school grants that can be used to purchase items to enhance the school and ensure its smooth functioning. Haslington Nursery School currently has 60 pupils on register. This amounts to a total of $240,000 per term at $4000 per child.
Minister Manickchand told parents that even though the grants are given to support the work of the school, they should still play an active role in the life of the school through the Parent Teacher Association. She said the new school is more than a building. “In this building, children will attend school, and they will leave ready to help run this country, to help to run this world. So, it is far more than a building, but it must have begun with a building,” she noted.

The Education Minister said the Government of Guyana is investing in children across Guyana and will continue to do so to produce the quality of citizens that can further develop and move Guyana forward.
Assistant Chief Education Officer (CEO), Devendra Persaud explained that the new structure is in keeping with the Government’s commitment to enhance school structures across the country so that children can enjoy the best facilities to acquire an education.
“I firmly believe that buildings, classrooms, laboratories, and equipment – educational infrastructure – are crucial elements of school learning environments. There is strong evidence that high-quality infrastructure facilitates better instruction, improves student outcomes, and reduces dropout rates, among other benefits.”

He further added that nursery education is paramount in developing a well-rounded child.
Persaud, however, applauded the regional administration and the Department of Education for Region Four for their excellent work to improve the quality of education infrastructure in the region.
Also present at the commissioning ceremony was the Regional Education Officer, Adrian Elgin, who stated that he was honoured to witness the commissioning of the school.
On behalf of the Regional Democratic Council and the Department of Education, he thanked the Education Ministry and the Government of Guyana for ensuring the region and the community of Haslington received a brand-new nursery school.