Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, has expressed her excitement and optimism as teachers from Christ Church Secondary School prepare to return to a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility following the devastating fire that destroyed the original building in early 2023.

A New Beginning After Tragedy

The original Christ Church Secondary was gutted by fire in January 2023, displacing over 500 students and their teachers. In response, the government swiftly moved to reconstruct the school, awarding seven contracts totaling $688.1 million. The new three-storey building, located on the same Camp and Middle Streets site, is now in its final stages of preparation, with furniture placement and last-minute arrangements underway.

Modern Facilities for Enhanced Learning

The new facility features 20 modern classrooms, science and IT laboratories, TVET, electrical and woodworking labs, Home Economics and Art and Music rooms, and advanced fire prevention systems. It is designed to accommodate between 450 and 520 students, providing a safe and inspiring environment for learning. Teachers and students who had been temporarily housed at the Cyril Potter College of Education, Turkeyen, are now preparing to transition back.

Teachers’ Passion and Community Spirit

Minister Manickchand, who visited the school to oversee the preparations, highlighted the dedication and enthusiasm of the teachers as they assist in setting up the new learning spaces. “You may recall we had this awful experience where it was lit afire and destroyed, but out of bad cometh good. And so now, we have a really beautiful, well-appointed, brand-new building for our students, and so today we’re moving in,” she remarked.

She emphasized that the school has always been known for academic excellence, with many students scoring in the top percentiles at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) and excelling at the CSEC and CXC levels. With the upgraded facilities, expectations are high for even greater student achievement.

Looking Forward

While the official commissioning date is yet to be announced, the Education Ministry is working closely with teachers to ensure a smooth move-in process. Minister Manickchand assured the school community that the new building is a gift of love and commitment from the government, aimed at fostering educational success and providing students with every opportunity to thrive.

The reopening of Christ Church Secondary stands as a symbol of resilience and progress, marking a new chapter for one of Guyana’s most respected educational institutions.