Reopening of 23 schools delayed to later dates in Sept

The Education Ministry (MoE) on Friday announced that a small number of public schools across seven of the 11 school districts would see delayed reopening for the Christmas term, in order to facilitate completion of rehabilitation works on some of the buildings.
Public schools across the country are scheduled to reopen for the Christmas Term on Monday, September 2, 2024, but the MoE has listed 23 of the 1196 public schools and dormitories that would be affected and would instead be opening at various other dates in September.
“Parents, guardians, teachers and learners: be reassured that all measures are being implemented to ensure each school is reopened at the earliest date,” the MoE has adverted in a release to the press.
These rehabilitation works are part of the MoE’s efforts to create comfortable and conducive learning environments in schools all across the country.
“We apologise for this, but we prefer to have the schools rehabilitated and the children comfortable than not,” the MoE has said.
In Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), the affected schools are La Grange Nursery, Tuschen #2 Nursery, Tuschen Primary, Patentia Secondary, Uitvlugt Secondary, Parika Salem Secondary, and Vreed-en-Hoop Secondary for Grades 7-9.
La Grange Nursery will instead reopen on Wednesday, September 4, while all of the remaining schools in Region Three would open on September 9.
In Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), only two schools are affected: Diamond Special Needs and Yarrowkabra Primary. Both of these schools are now slated to open on September 4.
In Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Bush Lot Secondary is the only affected school, and it will open on September 9.
In Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), the Campbelltown Primary will open on September 16, and Kamana Primary will open on September 9.
In Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), the St. Ignatius Nursery and Rupunau Nursery schools will open on September 9.
There are five affected schools in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice): Coomacka Primary, West Watooka Nursery and Watooka Day Primary (Grade 3 block) will open on September 9, while the Amelia’s Ward Student Dormitory and St. Lust Primary will open on September 23.
In Georgetown, Headstart Nursery will open on September 4, while Comenius Primary, Happy Hearts Nursery, and Precious Jewels Nursery will open on September 9.
Rehabilitation of schools is part of the $28.7 billion that Government set aside in 2024 for the construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of school buildings and educational facilities.
In other infrastructural developments, there are currently 26 new secondary schools under construction across the country.