Kato residents want full utilisation of school when completed

Aproposal by the Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) Administration to expand the range of educational classes to be offered at the Kato Secondary School is with the Government. The school is yet to be completed.
Regional Executive Officer (REO) Rafel Downes said the proposal catered for adult education and in-house training for teachers stationed within Kato and the sub-region.
Downes explained that the proposal came about following meetings with parents, teachers and community leaders.
The meetings highlighted the need to boost the capacity of the educational stakeholders so as to improve the academic performance of students in the sub-region.
Downes explained that in response, the Region Eight Administration completed and submitted to the Government, a proposal for adult education to be offered to parents and other stakeholders. It was proposed that the school could be used as the venue for the classes.
“This is essential in helping to reverse the academic performance of the students in the sub-region as the parents would help with the students’ homework,” Downes explained.

The sub-region has a below-average academic performance especially in the areas of Mathematics and English.
The proposal also addresses in-service training for the teachers that would develop their capacity to teach more efficiently and effectively and in a wider range of subjects. Downes observed that the in-service teachers’ training would be cheaper than having the teachers travel to the coastland for training.
The REO explained that when teachers leave for training, the result is not only a disruption in the family life of the teachers but the functionality of the education institution where the teacher works. The institution, which already struggles from a shortage of teachers, must now function with one less teacher, Downes explained.
He said the proposal was with the Ministries of Education and Finance.
The proposal for the classes for adults and teachers was raised during a recent meeting in Kato between Government Ministers and the Region Eight Regional Democratic Councillors and administration. Present at that meeting were Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan; Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton and Minister within the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry, Valerie Garrido-Lowe.
Construction of the Kato Secondary School started under the previous Administration, but was not completed.
It is envisaged that the school would be self-sufficient with solar energy and agricultural projects being considered.
The solar energy project would be expected to support students studying for their examinations and completing assignments and provide electricity for all classrooms.
The agricultural project would supplement the food supply for students living in the dormitory.