MoE engages stakeholders on synthetic track & football stadium at NRSS
Days after President Irfaan Ali announced plans to construct a 300-metre synthetic athletic track in Georgetown, along with world-class sporting facilities at the North Ruimveldt Secondary School, the Ministry of Education (MoE) on Saturday convened a consultation with key stakeholders.
The session was led by Education Minister Priya Manickchand, who was joined by Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) President Godfrey Munroe and Nicholas Fraser, Head of the Unit of Allied Arts.
Minister Manickchand during her presentation to the stakeholders
Attendees included representatives from the GOA, Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG), Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Guyana Police Force (GPF), the Guyana Football Federation, sports Journalists, teachers of North Ruimveldt Secondary, and several national athletes.
The initiative follows President Ali’s announcement at the recent commissioning of the rebuilt North Ruimveldt Secondary School, where he emphasised that educational progress must go hand-in-hand with investments in sports, mentorship, and community engagement.
“In the vicinity of this school, there is a piece of land. We have decided to invest in a 300-metre athletic track, built to international standards, along with a FIFA-certified football field, basketball, volleyball and tennis courts,” the President said.
He stressed that the facility will benefit both students and the wider community, providing young people with opportunities to thrive through sport and positive mentorship.
Stakeholders at the site
“Every month, this facility will benefit from sixty voluntary hours of mentoring. We want to create a system where men in the community step forward to mentor and guide our boys, complementing the natural leadership we already see among women.”
He added that the project forms part of a national strategy to foster well-rounded citizens through education, skills training, and healthy lifestyles. Teachers and physical education instructors, he said, will play a vital role in embedding sport into the curriculum in a structured way.
The President urged the community to embrace the project, describing it as an investment in strong families, safe spaces for youth, and a culture of discipline and teamwork.
