Gy$179M being spent to spruce up city schools

Government is currently spending some Gy$179.7 million to repair and maintain 49 schools in Georgetown that require urgent attention.

The work is part of the Education Ministry’s current work programme, and is geared to ensure that these buildings are in a habitable state when school reopens in September, the ministry said in a release. Under this multi-million-dollar programme, work is being done on 23 secondary schools, 14 primary schools, and 12 nursery schools. Some Gy$29.8 million is being spent on nursery schools, Gy$49.4 million on primary schools, and Gy$100.4 million on secondary schools.

Among the schools to be repaired and maintained are the St. Christopher, Stella Maris and St. Gabriel’s nursery schools; St. Stephens, West Ruimveldt and East La Penitence primary schools; and Cummings Lodge, Charlestown and South Ruimveldt secondary schools.

Apart from the repair and maintenance programme, some Gy$34.3 million is being spent on infrastructural works on 13 other schools in the city to repair fences and sanitary blocks, among other works. These works are expected to be completed by August month-end. The Education Ministry recently recruited two engineers to conduct a survey of all school buildings and to carrying out repairs on those that need urgent rehabilitation.

The ministry does not have direct control over building, repairing, maintenance and other infrastructural matters of schools outside of Georgetown. Monies for those works are budgeted for by the respective regions, and the ministry works along with the regions to ensure all schools remain environments conducive to learning. The ministry, of late, has had cause to voice disappointment at the sloth of regional officials in carrying out critical repairs to certain schools, and is working with the regions to prevent recurrence of this situation.

It is noteworthy that the schools in Georgetown, under the purview of the central Ministry of Education, are in good physical condition and remain supportive learning environments. The ministry has been making, and continues to make, every effort to ensure that schools outside of Georgetown attain these standards.

The efforts being made to ensure school are safe, healthy, supportive and conducive learning environments are known, and have been acknowledged by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Much progress has been made in creating quality learning environments in schools. Research data suggests that a quality learning environment is a necessary child- friendly component in schools. Every classroom had chalkboard and age/ size-appropriate furniture that was painted in vivid colours, UNICEF 2009 Child- Friendly Schools Evaluation Country Report for Guyana disclosed.