New state-of-the-art secondary school for Prospect

A new secondary school will be constructed at Prospect, East Bank Demerara, to cater for some 1,000 students. The sod turning ceremony was held on Friday where Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand said the school will provide a comfortable learning environment and a high quality education.

The construction of the school is made possible through an extended loan from the World Bank.

“We want across Guyana from the Pakairamas Mountain to the Corentyne to Moruca, wherever you live, that you should be able to access secondary education. Every time we look at giving citizens more access, we simultaneously look at giving more access that is of a very high quality,” Manickchand said.

Minister Manickchand revealed that on the East Bank of Demerara there are eight primary schools which facilitate learning for secondary school students.

As such, she said the government aims to change this by building secondary schools.

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary, Alfred King, said the school will include a performing arts studio; a computer and science labs, along with a library.

“Here we are expecting not only to provide the educational space, [but] a modern facility that will allow for a balanced growth and development of students in the education system at the secondary level,” King stated.

Meanwhile, bidding is not yet available for the project but contractors and consultants were warned of termination of contracts if the school is not completed within the stipulated time frame.

The government recently terminated contracts with BK International and Courtney Benn Contracting – for being delinquent on the execution of projects, including the construction of schools.

“We don’t yet know who is going to be the contractor…what I hope and pray…is that the people who put forward themselves as having the capacity and the desire to build this school are going to be patriots who understand what we want to do and will try their very best to finish on time.

“Because if they don’t, we will terminate long before we reach a place of five years and find out you are not going to finish the school,” Minister Manickchand firmly stated.

While the construction cost is not yet known, the Prospect Secondary School will be similar to schools being constructed at Yarrowkabra on the Soesdyke Linden Highway, Good Hope on the East Coast of Demerara and Parfaite Harmonie, on the West Bank of Demerara.