“Some of us did not have this opportunity” – minister tells parents

…as $73.7M Kwakwani Waterfront Nursery School commissioned

The new $73.7 million Kwakwani Waterfront Nursery School was officially commissioned on Wednesday, marking a significant step forward in the government’s commitment to providing accessible, high-quality education for children across the country. The school was delivered through the Ministry of Finance’s Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF), in partnership with the Caribbean Development Bank.

The facility includes two spacious classrooms designed to accommodate up to 48 children, along with a staff room, storage area, headmistress’s office, sick bay, and sanitary block. The modern, purpose-built school offers a fresh, welcoming environment for 31 students from Kwakwani, with room for future growth.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill reflected on the transformation of the area, from a flood-prone community to one now uplifted by the development of the new school.

“I remember going in a boat down to the waterfront nursery school with the teachers inside, helping them to retrieve things from the nursery school because it was flooded. Learning was disrupted, and the furnishings of that school were damaged because water was more than knee-high in the building. And we can’t keep doing the same thing all the time,” he said.
He added, “The government made a quality decision that it will move to relocate the waterfront nursery school that was prone to flooding to take it to a place where it will not be easily flooded. Furthermore, while doing that, improve the standard. Here in Kwakwani, you’re having one of the most modern nursery schools in the country.”
He also addressed those who claim that the government has done nothing for the people of Kwakwani, stating that residents must tell them about the significant investment.
He stated that this new school is a whopping $73.7 million that they are looking at investing in education in a building for the children of Kwakwani.”
This enhancement to the school was driven by the government’s vision of providing education for all students, ensuring that this generation outperforms the last.
He stated that when a government creates an environment where every child can have an education from nursery all the way to tertiary, fully funded by the state, the government is sending a clear message to every Guyanese family:
“You can improve your welfare, you can improve your circumstances, and families could be better tomorrow than they are today.”
He added that the joy of every parent is to ensure that their children do better than them. Over the years, he noted, there has been a positive return on the investment in the lives of those children.
He also stated that the school caters to a wide variety of students, including those with different abilities, and he urged parents and students to take care of the school.
“This school provides that opportunity. So I want you to consider alongside all of that what we’re doing in health care, what we’re doing in physical infrastructure, what we’re doing in the delivery of services, and the improvements that we are bringing to the lives of people. Today, we can celebrate the fact that you have a government that has served you and has served you well.”
“Children of Kwakwani, all of us, let’s care for this building. Now the government gives you the uniform, the cash grant, the meals, and the support. You don’t expect me to come and flood the children here in the morning and beat them and bring them to school. Government has its role; parents have their role. And I’m calling upon parents—some of us did not have this opportunity.”
The school is also fully equipped with basic furniture, fire detection and suppression systems, and, importantly, features designed to accommodate children with disabilities, including ramps and accessible washrooms.