Tuschen Secondary nears completion

– as Manickchand pushes for supportive school environment

With the Tuschen Secondary School just weeks away from completion, Education Minister Priya Manickchand has championed the cause of creating an environment in which students do not feel burdened to attend school.
The brand-new institution, located in Region Three, is nearing completion with a clear focus on providing a welcoming and supportive atmosphere where students feel motivated and comfortable to learn.

This was the sentiment expressed by Minister Manickchand during a visit to the construction site on Wednesday.
Once completed, the $864.7 million facility will cater to more than 800 students from Tuschen and surrounding communities.
The modern, one-flat structure will feature 24 classrooms, science laboratories, a TVET centre, a canteen, a multi-purpose hall and cafeteria, a sanitary block, fire prevention systems, and an outdoor recreational area.
“The whole idea, the new thinking about school, is that it must not be burdensome—it must be a place children want to come to,” the Minister stated.
“When you come in here, it should feel like an oasis. And in that oasis, they also learn—so they can rise above whatever dire situations they may be coming from, whether it’s poverty, absent parents, or households where education was not previously a priority. This is what we want for the children of this country, and this Tuschen Secondary School represents that. The buildings will be handed over shortly, within the next couple of weeks.”
Manickchand also highlighted that construction work continues on the multi-purpose court, shade house, and other important facilities that will enhance student life.
“We’re looking now at landscaping. There’s going to be a multi-purpose court, a shade house, space for an agricultural plot—it’s going to be a complete secondary school,” she noted.
“The kids who are coming here were previously housed in primary tops or crowded into other schools. When those schools release those students to us, we’ll now have more space, and we’ll be able to repair and renovate the older facilities as well.”
Several other schools in various regions are set to be completed by year end, including the Christ Church Secondary and St. Roses High.

Christ Church Secondary
The Education Minister also visited the Christ Church Secondary School on Friday, where reconstruction efforts are progressing steadily following a devastating fire.
“You may recall we had this awful experience where it was lit afire and destroyed. But out of bad cometh good. And so now, we have a really beautiful, well-appointed, brand-new building for our List A students,” she said.
Teachers have already begun assisting with the move-in process.
“Teachers are helping us set up their corners and classrooms with great passion and excitement. We had an extremely good head teacher before, and now we have another excellent one. The students placed here are those who scored 94 and 95 per cent at the NGSA, so this has always been a very strong school,” Manickchand added.
She concluded with optimism about the future of the institution, stating that the education ministry hopes that teachers and students will be able to make the best out of the opportunity they are being granted due to the upgraded facilities.
“We see that strength reflected in the CSEC and CXC results. We hope—and expect—to see even better outcomes now that students and teachers have been given these upgraded facilities. Of course, we’re going to keep our eyes on it. But I’m really, really glad we’re finally moving in. All of this is done with love—from us to you.”