Pres Ali applauds special needs teachers for “patience, love, commitment” to students

…as $94M Exceptional Learners’ Centre commissioned
…visiting CDB president describes facility as a hub of empowerment

The Government has delivered on its promise to enhance special education with the commissioning of the first Exceptional Learners’ Centre in Cotton Field, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

This $94 million state-of-the-art facility is set to transform the education landscape by providing tailored support for children ‘differently abled’.
President Dr Irfaan Ali, in his address at the commissioning ceremony on Wednesday, reaffirmed his government’s unwavering commitment to human capital development, reiterating that special needs education is a priority, and the new center is a symbol of inclusion and progress.
With this in mind, the Head of State praised the dedication of special needs teachers, acknowledging the immense patience, love, and commitment required for their profession.
“We are on a mission in Guyana today to ensure that all our teachers are trained teachers and they have the opportunity to also be trained graduates, free of cost, an investment that we are making. But special needs teachers require special people and the intake for special needs is not as wide as other teachers, because they have to not only be a teacher, but to be the symbol and the manifestation of patience, love, and all that support these children. And they are exceptional in that regard.”
“I want to continue to tell you, the teachers of this country, that as our economy continues to grow, your life will continue to improve, and the prosperity will continue to grow. And prosperity for you is beyond material prosperity. It’s beyond financial prosperity. Your prosperity is higher and richer because of the work you do,” Ali told the teachers present.
The Exceptional Learners’ Centre is designed to cater to students with autism, intellectual disabilities, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, fragile X syndrome, and sensory impairments. The facility offers specialised assessments, individualized interventions, and adaptive resources to create an inclusive learning environment where each student educational needs are met.
Expressing satisfaction with the infrastructural landscape of the Centre, President Ali disclosed that government’s vision for education includes replicating the model across the country.
He explained that this initiative will play a pivotal role in ensuring that children with special needs in all regions have access to quality education in a supportive environment.
“This is a facility that we can easily place in other countries, the design, we can replicate this. This is what we’ll call in Guyana, because we’re going to replicate this, the base model. And depending on the population, we add to the base model…We don’t need consultants to come and redesign it. You have a base design that you must share with other governments in the region because this would have already met all the criteria set by the bank,” the President disclosed.
The Guyanese Leader also announced that buses will be provided to transport students to and from the Exceptional Learners’ Centre, making it easier for them to attend school.
Additionally, he stated that students who need medical care will no longer have to travel to clinics, as these services will be available right at the school.
“We have to maximize the output from these facilities. So we’re going to integrate health services for these children with this facility, so that these children, if they have to go for monthly health checkups in the clinics, we’re going to bring the clinic to the facility here every month. So, we reduce the strain on the parents, on the children, and that is an important part of our service delivery motto as a government,” he added.

Empowerment and transformation
Meanwhile, the newly appointed President of the Caribbean Development Bank, Daniel Best, who is on a three-day visit to Guyana, shared that the centre is not just a building but a hub of empowerment and transformation.
Best noted that from academic lessons to social and emotional support, educators will work closely with specialists, therapists, and families to create a comprehensive learning experience that ensures every student can reach their full potential.
Acknowledging that no two children are the same and their needs are equally unique, he stated “today, we are taking a monumental step towards ensuring that children with special needs in this community have access to education and the resources that they rightfully deserve. Projects like these are at the heart of development and the reason that the Caribbean Development Bank exists. CDB, through its Basic Needs Trust Fund program, is absolutely thrilled to be your partner in this journey. At the CDB, a key part of our mission is transforming lives through sustainable, resilient and inclusive development.”
The contract for the Exceptional Learners’ Centre at Cotton Field was signed in March 2024 at a cost of $94,787,27.
The project was funded by the Government of Guyana through the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) and executed by local contractor, Builder’s Engineering & Architectural Consultancy.
The BNTF, a grant-funded programme by the Caribbean Development Bank, aims to reduce poverty by addressing the causes of inequitable access to quality education, especially for children with special needs.
In January 2024, teachers commenced to registration of learners at the school with the support and cooperation of parents.