Sod turned for $1.7B secondary school at Karasabai

The sod was officially turned for the construction of a modern secondary school at Karasabai in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) to the tune of $1.7 billion.

The contract was awarded to Avinash Contracting and is scheduled to be completed in two years.
The project will be instrumental in providing more educational opportunities for students in the region and will transform the quality of their lives.
The modern school complex would feature 10 buildings including the main teaching block and allied lecturing facilities, modern science laboratory for Physics, Chemistry and Biology, TVET Centres, combined Home Economics and cafeteria area, teachers’ quarters.
The designs of the buildings were completed in November 2022 after a series of consultations.
Once completed, the facility will house and will cater for 500 students in the classroom, and 250 students in the dormitories.
This means students will no longer have to traverse rough terrain daily to receive an education they rightly deserve. Students from Karasabai and all other neighbouring villages will have the opportunity to pursue a sound secondary education.
Students in the Karasabai subdistrict from communities such as Tiger Pond, Cracrana, Tsushima, Kokshebai and Yurong Paru are currently either not receiving a secondary education or are being educated in primary tops, secondary departments included in primary schools.
Delivering the feature address, Education Minister Priya Manickchand stated that the region was one step closer to achieving universal education with the construction of the state-of-the-art facility.
She noted that the school was intended to deliver first-class education to students in Region Nine.
“We are very certain that once we do that, you will see your children excel,” she declared.
She further noted that hinterland education delivery remains a top priority for the Ministry and by extension, the Government of Guyana. She highlighted that for the first time, the Ministry appointed an officer with sole responsibility for Amerindian and Hinterland Education Development.
Local Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel Dharamlall noted that delivering education to the people of Region Nine has always been on the agenda for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government since it assumed office.
He highlighted that in 1992, there was one secondary school in the region, and it was in St Ignatius, which is more than 48 miles away from Karasabai. To date, several secondary schools have been constructed in the region.
Assistant Chief Education Officer for Amerindian and Hinterland Education Development, Marti DeSouza related that the development in the education sector was no longer limited to the coastland.
He highlighted that the Education Ministry has been working assiduously to close the gap between the coast and the hinterland, and to achieve universal secondary education across the country.
Regional Chairman Bryan Allicock stated that the construction of the secondary school in Karasabai has been on the agenda, and he was proud to see the project become a reality.
Village Toshao Elvis Edwards expressed thanks to the Ministers for listening to the concerns of the people and delivering on their promise.
In addition the Karasabai Secondary School, there are several other schools being constructed across the country.