Government has announced allocations totalling G$52.2 billion for the education sector in its 2019 Budget, including a G$3.1 billion subvention to the University of Guyana that will go towards upgrades.
According to Finance Minister Winston Jordan, G$508 million out of the money will go towards upgrading facilities at both the Turkeyen and Tain campuses. In addition, the Minister explained that G$2.6 billion will be used to cover operational expenditure.
Jordan also revealed to the National Assembly that the University will be formulating a strategic plan that includes plans for new degrees in the oil and gas field, such as petroleum engineering.
In terms of the entire sector, Jordan said the money will go towards, among other things, eliminating the shortage of books in the classroom. Money will also be invested in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) subjects.
A priority for spending, he noted, is addressing disparities in education between the coast and hinterland. Jordan also noted that monies will go towards alleviating social ills within the schools system, as well as the school feeding programme.
“Programmes to reduce bullying and violence as well as other social problems in schools will be expanded to ensure regular school attendance. In this regard, two mobile welfare units will be introduced to expand access to a wider student population.”
“Importantly, the school feeding programme across the country will be expanded, with an additional 9545 students expected to benefit. This programme has been shown to be pivotal to improving school attendance and enhancing learning in the absence of hunger.”
$5.4 billion will also be spent on constructing, rehabilitating and extending schools throughout Guyana. This includes the continuation of works on St Rose’s High, which was torn down earlier this year to be rebuilt.
During his speech, Jordan expressed optimism of Guyana achieving 90 per cent pass rates in Mathematics. Despite the implementation of a series of measures aimed at improving students’ performance in the core subject areas, Mathematics recorded low pass rates at this year’s National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA).
During an overview of pupils’ performance at this year’s examination, which was written in March, it was highlighted that only 38 per cent of the pupils who wrote the NGSA exam this year gained 50 per cent or more in maths. This is compared to 45 per cent last year.
Education Minister Nicolette Henry had said at the time that exam pass rates normally fluctuate and it always becomes a cause for concern when that percentage drops below what was obtained previously. To this end, she had noted that the Ministry will have to continue what it started last year, that is, mainstreaming methodology that were used in the emergency intervention.
“Last year as you are aware, it was an intervention year… so what we have to do is sustain… There is no subject area that is below the Maths 38 per cent, which was considered high for Mathematics,” she said, while adding that they want those days to be a thing of the past, whereby subject pass rate percentages are in the 20s, teens or even lower.
Following disturbing low performances in 2016, Cabinet had mandated in October that year that a strategy be established targeting improvements in students’ performance in the core subject areas. That plan was subsequently approved and implemented.
Among the measures that were recommended are training of teachers in content and methodology, developing learning communities where teachers were able to share information and experiences regarding mathematical concepts and recruitment of monitors and coordinators to ensure that the emergency plan was implemented.
