The sod-turning ceremony for the new $1.3 billion Nismes Secondary School
The sod-turning ceremony for a new $1.3 billion Nismes Secondary School was conducted on Thursday with Education Minister Priya Manickchand leading the ceremony to celebrate the start of this project.
According to Manickchand, the school will serve 800 students and provide much-needed educational infrastructure for the community.
The school project, with a total investment of $1,336,166,784, is an essential part of the Government’s commitment to enhancing educational facilities and expanding access to quality learning environments across Guyana.
Located in the La Grange-Nismes district, the school will be equipped to meet the needs of students, supporting the region’s dedication to educational excellence and furthering efforts to achieve universal secondary education.
According to the Education Ministry, the construction work has been divided into five lots and awarded to trusted contractors with a range of completion timelines. ECS Construction & General Supplies has been awarded Lot 1, with a contract sum of $237,050,110, and Lot 2, valued at $237,427,608. Both are scheduled to be completed in eight months. JK Enterprise Inc is overseeing Lot 3, valued at $392,372,526, also with an eight-month timeline. Mason s Innovative Construction will manage Lot 4, valued at $154,448,800, with an expedited three-month schedule. Finally, R&R General Construction & Supplies has been awarded Lot 5, valued at $314,867,740, with an eight-month completion timeline.
The Education Minister, a release from the Ministry said, shared her thoughts on the importance of this new facility for the community, emphasising the Government’s dedication to education, regardless of location.
“We set about immediately looking to see how we can build secondary schools with the view that every single child in this country whether you’re from Georgetown or you’re from here on the West Bank, or you’re from the deep hinterland or you live on a mountaintop you must be able to access a secondary education, she explained.
Further, the Minister expressed appreciation towards the One Communications corporation for donating a portion of land to the school.
“I have to say that after negotiations, they’ve been very kind to say they’re going to give us that piece of land, and I so want to recognise One Communications for donating a piece of land to the secondary education of the children of the West Bank, she said.
