Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, Engages Contractors at Kwebanna Secondary School, Region One

The initiative for universal secondary education in the hinterlands of Guyana is gaining momentum, with the upcoming Kwebanna Secondary School poised to significantly enhance learning opportunities for numerous children in Region One. During her recent visit to the construction site in Kwebanna Village, Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, announced that the school, upon completion, will accommodate approximately 700 students from Kwebanna and neighboring communities. This state-of-the-art institution will feature dormitories designed to house around 300 to 400 students, ensuring vital access to education for children from remote areas.

“This school will play a crucial role in providing universal secondary education within this segment of the Moruca sub-district,” Minister Manickchand stated. She emphasized that children from Asakata, Santa Cruz, Kariako, Warapoka, and other nearby villages will benefit, giving parents the option to send their children to Kwebanna for the school term.

The Kwebanna Secondary School is one of five new secondary institutions currently being constructed in Region One, as part of a broader national initiative aimed at bridging the educational gap between coastal and hinterland communities.

Current Progress at Kwebanna Secondary School

The design of the school includes a primary lecture hall with over 30 classrooms, fully equipped science laboratories for Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, as well as a modern Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) center featuring Industrial and Home Economics labs. Additional amenities will include a canteen, cafeteria, sanitary facilities, and recreational areas for sports such as basketball and cricket.

Safety measures are integral to the school’s design, incorporating fire escape exits, alarm systems, extinguishers, minimal timber usage, metal ceilings, and fire-retardant panels to safeguard both students and staff. Furthermore, the project includes modern teachers’ quarters, a dining hall, and a campus-style layout for classroom blocks.

The construction of the school is being executed through six contracts valued at $2.017 billion, which were awarded in July 2023 to local contractors: Supreme Contracting & Supplies, Bree’s Enterprise, AS Construction, and Singh & Son Construction.

Minister Manickchand also highlighted ongoing work at Waramuri Secondary School and Hosororo Secondary School, while construction of Matthew’s Ridge Secondary School is in progress. The recently completed Northwest Secondary School has reopened after being completely rebuilt following an arson incident.

“Wherever communities grow, evolve, and necessitate a school—be it primary, nursery, or secondary—we will build it. That is our commitment,” Minister Manickchand affirmed, reiterating the government’s dedication to expanding educational infrastructure throughout Guyana.

Presently, approximately 42 secondary schools are under construction nationwide, with 24 situated in hinterland regions. The Minister pointed out that this investment aims to enhance school retention rates and facilitate more students’ progression to higher education, which remains free at the University of Guyana and through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL).

The new Kwebanna Secondary School symbolizes the government’s commitment to ensuring equitable access to quality education for every child in Guyana, regardless of how remote their community may be.