Over 1000 students to access technical education at new $791M Yarrowkabra Secondary School

…facility replaces 7 primary tops along Linden-Soesdyke Highway

President Dr. Irfaan Ali commissioned the new Yarrowkabra Secondary School on Thursday, which was constructed by R. Bassoo and Sons to the tune of $791 million.
The facility is comprised of a designated space for industrial arts, a main lecture hall, requisite laboratories and 11 departments well equipped to administer Entrepreneurships, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
In his address, President Ali revealed that the school will be a transformational force, both at the individual and community levels by upskilling 1019 students with the technical expertise needed to advance Guyana’s economy.
On this point, the Head of State outlined the crucial role education plays in reducing inequality, generating intergenerational wealth, and empowering individuals.
“Through this initiative, we aim to make education accessible to every child, providing enriching, enlightening and empowering learning experiences essential for a modern economy. The shift towards knowledge-based industries and economies has heightened the demand for a highly educated workforce, proficient in STEM areas. By emphasising universal secondary education, we are cultivating a larger pool of students better prepared to meet the demands of a modernising economy. Our education focus extends beyond traditional subjects. Secondary education must instill a robust foundation in entrepreneurship, innovation, creativity, critical thinking and problem solving,” the head of state said.
According to Ali, these attributes are integral for establishing businesses, developing and mastering technologies and fostering growth, enabling citizens to stay competitive amid rapid technological and scientific changes.
Accessibility
On the issue of accessibility, Ali added that through well-articulated programmes, students residing in far flung areas are now able to access similar opportunities in the technical arena like students living in the capital city.
“We firmly believe that access to universal education should not be optional, it is an indispensable right for every child. Secondary education is not merely a privilege it is a fundamental entitlement that must be extended to all…We are effectively progressing to a future, where the necessity of sending our children far away from home to secure a superior education will no longer be a concern. Gone will be the days when the only option for top notch education requires sending children residing in rural and hinterland areas to Georgetown,” he added.

Also delivering remarks was Education Minster Priya Manickchand, who revealed that the Secondary School will complement the already existing Yarrowkabra Nursery and Primary Schools in the community and close nearby primary tops.
She explained that this intervention will significantly reduce overcrowding in schools in those areas and increase access to quality secondary education.
“Students from Hauraruni Primary Top, Laluni Primary Top, Long creek Primary Top, Kuru Kuru Primary Top, Dora Primary Top, Susannah’s Rust and Low Wood Primary Top are now coming to this school for a sound secondary education where six to five teachers are teaching in this school… The only sure way we know to make sure your children have a life better than yours, to make sure they have a life of less struggle, to make sure they’re not living a life of want, is to educate them. That’s the only sure way we know, and that is why President Ali is investing in education, particularly all across this country,” the education minister said.
The minister added that the focus is not only on building schools, but it is also on building human resources and training persons to be competent in the education sector.
“We started this school last year and we already need 10 new classrooms which the permanent secretary has already put out to bid because once the school is here, kids will come to school. And once children come to school lives will change,” she added. (G1)