Guyana’s 1st school for hearing-impaired children “must be model of excellence” – Education Minister

Minister of Education Sonia Parag has declared that Guyana’s first dedicated school for the deaf, now under construction at Cummings Lodge on the East Coast of Demerara, must serve as a “model of excellence” for inclusive education nationwide.

During a recent site visit, the Minister underscored that the project’s timely and quality completion is a matter of national priority. She expressed confidence that the facility will be ready as scheduled in November 2025, reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to closely monitoring progress until the school officially opens its doors.
“This is not just another building. This must be a model institution that sets the standard for inclusivity, accessibility, and excellence in education,” Parag said during her engagement with the contractor.
The $194,472,570 project is being executed by Superior Supplies and General Construction and remains firmly on track for completion.

Once finished, the facility will provide a modern learning environment for 30 deaf learners and act as a resource hub for deaf youth, with programmes designed to foster inclusivity, personal development, and community engagement.

Minister Parag was joined on the visit by Permanent Secretary Shanielle Hoosein-Outar; Dr Keon Cheung, Assistant Chief Education Officer for Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND); and Head of Buildings Gerron Parker.

With just weeks left before completion, the new school is expected to open a new chapter in Guyana’s push toward a more inclusive education system.
Earlier this year, Assistant Chief Education Officer with responsibility for Special Education Needs (ACEO-SEN) Keon Cheong highlighted some of the transformative work his unit has been doing over the years.
“We’re doing a lot of things… now they have a space whereby deafness and deaf culture can really blossom and create this capacity here. It’s not only intended to be a school, but… the possibility of being a resource centre in a space where deaf youths can congregate, and so many things can come out of that. It definitely adds value for them.”
Moreover, the ACEO had revealed that through Government investments, the Ministry now boasts Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) spaces at various schools.
“So, we now have 27 SEND spaces. 27 SEND spaces is a combination of SEND classrooms and SEND schools. The schools are the SEND home and casualty facilities, and the SEND classrooms are the classrooms from the mainstream schools, and the children are being sent there based on the screening packet and the assessment that’s done by the officers or the diagnostics. The assessment process – we take it from the screening. It’s a due process to ensure the children really get the diagnosis of disabilities.”
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.