Schools reopen nationwide, 1% under temporary arrangements – Minister

Education Minister Sonia Parag, has assured that all schools across the country reopened on Monday, with only one per cent of institutions operating under temporary alternative arrangements due to issues that could not be resolved within the required timeframe. She made the disclosure during an interview with reporters while conducting visits to several schools in Georgetown to observe the reopening and engage with staff and students. Speaking with reporters from the North Georgetown Secondary School, Minister Parag noted that stakeholders worked assiduously over the past few weeks to ensure schools are ready for reopening. “…meaning that we have functional washrooms, that we have water that is connected and flowing in schools, that gutters were not hanging, that the school environment is clean as well as furniture being available to all students and teachers,” she said.

Temporary arrangements
Parag noted that there are some 1200 schools across the country and all of them have reopened, though some are operating under temporary arrangements. For example, she said the Airy Hall Nursery School has ongoing construction and therefore, parents and other stakeholders were consulted on temporary and alternative arrangements for the reopening of the school. “The minor repairs did not prevent any schools from reopening, we ensured that those were completed and it was ready for reopening…but where you have major rehabilitation, it’s about one per cent of all the schools that are in a state of where we have [major rehabilitation] …but it does not prevent students or schools from reopening, we just have different arrangements,” she noted.

Northwest Secondary
In a statement on Monday shared by Regional Chairman of Region One (Barima-Waini), Brentnol Ashley, the Northwest Secondary School Board of Governors acknowledged that there were some challenges in accommodating Grade 7 students, but noted that those would be resolved by today.
“The Northwest Secondary School Board of Governors has taken note of the concerns raised by parents and guardians on various social media platforms regarding the lack of readiness to accommodate some Grade 7 students for the commencement of the new academic year. The Board wishes to assure all affected parents and guardians that the matter is being addressed as a matter of urgency and will be resolved by tomorrow, Tuesday, September 1, 2026, so as to facilitate the affected Grade 7 classes,” the statement reads. Additionally, the school explained that due to the large number of new students admitted to Grade 7 for this academic year, there is currently insufficient classroom space within the main school building to accommodate the entire intake. As a result, the school’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) facility will be utilised to accommodate some Grade 7 classes. The school assured that the necessary arrangements are being made to ensure that the facility is adequately prepared and provides a safe and suitable environment for teaching and learning.
“The Board understands the concerns of parents and guardians and sincerely regrets any inconvenience caused by the delay. We ask for your patience and understanding as we work with the school’s administration and other relevant authorities to ensure that every student is properly accommodated and afforded the opportunity to commence the new academic year. The Board remains committed to the welfare, safety and educational development of every student of Northwest Secondary School,” the statement noted.

New schools
Meanwhile, in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni Karrau Secondary in Lower Mazaruni and Issano Secondary in Middle Mazaruni officially opened their doors on Monday. Karrau is currently accommodating students from the community as well as transfers from both Three Miles Secondary and Bartica Secondary. Meanwhile, Issano launched with an initial cohort of 12 students from Issano and Tassarene Village. Issano’s enrollment will expand significantly upon completion of its dormitory, which will house students from Kangaruma, Isseneru and surrounding riverine communities, the Ministry has since said.

Regular maintenance
Meanwhile, Parag noted that throughout the school year, regular maintenance will be conducted at schools across the country. She emphasised that, ”maintenance is something that all schools need so while we have our schools in a prepared state for reopening today, we also have maintenance crews that will be working throughout the year to ensure that if a toilet is broken or a doorknob is broken or a roof is leaking, that we’d be able to fix that”.

Resources
Further, Parag restated the Government’s commitment to ensuring all schools are equipped with the resources needed for learners and educators. “I’m not saying that everything is going to be perfect but we’re working to ensure that we strengthen our education system by not only giving access but ensuring that the opportunities and what is available to students, that they can have resources that they can utilise their success, for both teachers and students,” she emphasised.