Guyana’s 1st school for autistic learners in design phase – Education Minister

Education Minister Priya Manickchand has highlighted that that Ministry is currently designing the country’s first school which would cater specifically to autistic learners.
The Education Minister made this highlight on Wednesday during the launch of new teaching programmes at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE). One of the programmes which were launched is centred on Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
In this regard, the Minister noted that the Education Ministry has made significant strides over the years in improving the learning experience for children living with disabilities. In fact, the Minister revealed that the Ministry is currently working to build Guyana’s first school for children with autism.
“We just turned the sod for our first deaf school in the country. We’re designing right now an autism school right now as we speak. As you may know, these cannot just be buildings, they have peculiar features that we have to get expert advice for,” she explained.
Moreover, as it relates to testing and diagnostics, the Minister revealed that the Cuban Government had promised to fund a diagnostic and treatment facility for SEND students. However, the Minister noted that these plans did not come into fruition. Nevertheless, the Minister highlighted that the Ministry would be working to establish this facility before the end of the year.
“And right here on this campus was established a diagnostic and treatment facility for SEND students. And that was supposed to be, and my commitment is before the end of the year it will be. That was supposed to be a centre for the Caribbean, donated to us by the Government and people of Cuba, and that never rolled out into a Caribbean facility,” she explained.
Reaffirming the commitment to improving the education delivery for children living with disabilities, Minister Manickchand has said, “So now we have an Assistant Chief Education Officer with responsibility for Special Education Needs, and a Senior Education Officer, and that wasn’t by accident. that’s telling you the direction we’re taking this in. This is special enough for us to pay attention in a way that has never had attention before.”
In 2023, the SEND Department launched its screening and intervention programme which led to the training of over 1500 nursery year-two teachers in learner screening. Additionally, 10 out of 11 educational districts now have dedicated SEND officers.
Another major aspect of the sector was the introduction of the Associate Degree in Special Education Needs and Disabilities at the Cyril Potter College of Education.
Meanwhile, just last week the sod was turned for a new school to cater for children with hearing disabilities, the country’s first dedicated school for the deaf. This new facility, which would be constructed within the Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara (ECD) area, represents an investment of over $194 million. The state-of-the-art facility would cater to 30 learners who are deaf, providing a nurturing environment that celebrates and supports deaf culture.