The state-of-the-art dormitory at Charity that will accommodate some 200 students from riverine communities in Region Two on the Essequibo Coast is expected to be completed in another two months’ time.
The dorm is one of several across the country being constructed or repaired.
The Education Ministry is expecting the number of students residing in government-funded dormitories to increase significantly in the next three years, as it pushes ahead with plans to expand access to secondary education.
Currently, some 2500 students are occupying state-run dormitories throughout the country. In Region One, construction and extension of dormitory facilities are being carried out at Port Kaituma, Santa Rosa, Hosororo, Wauna and Kwebanna, in the North West, to house an average of 289 students.
The state-of-the-art dormitory at Charity
The Region Three administration has also proposed the construction of a dormitory facility at Parika/Salem to cater for an average intake of 69 pupils from 15 communities per year. The Region Six administration has similar proposals for facilities at the New Amsterdam and Skeldon secondary schools, to accommodate about 220 students.
In Region Seven, the facilities at Waramadong and Bartica secondary schools are earmarked to be extended to cater for an additional 200 students.
Similarly, in Region Eight, additional spaces in the form of a school with dormitory facilities is required in sub- region One to accommodate an average of 50 students annually for the next five years.
Region Nine caters for more than 1100 students in three secondary schools located in three of the five sub-districts.
The schools – Annai, Aishalton and St Ignatius secondary schools – cater for the accommodation needs of students.
During the last academic year, budgetary allocation was made to facilitate the extension of the dormitory at the Annai Secondary School.
It is expected that this facility will cater for approximately 60 students from the South Pakaraimas and outlying areas in North Rupununi.
