First time school for Eteringbang

─ schools for Kako, Imbaimadai

─ Education Ministry bridging educational gaps

DPI, Guyana, Tuesday, September 10, 2019

The far-flung Upper Mazaruni community of Eteringbang will soon have access to local primary education for the first time.

Regional Chairman for Region 7 (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Gordon Bradford stated recently that this step is part of the government’s efforts to ensure access to universal primary education, with particular emphasis on hinterland communities.

Two primary schools were commissioned recently by Education Minister, Hon. Dr. Nicolette Henry and Minister of State, Hon. Dawn Hastings-Williams in Kamarang and Paruima, both in the Upper Mazaruni District of Region 7.

Similarly, the region is also constructing a new primary education facility in Imbaimadai, which is said to be 45% completed, and yet another primary school in Kako.

The contract to construct the school in Eteringbang was awarded to K & P Project Management for $25M.

Eteringbang is located on the Upper Cuyuni River, close to the Guyana-Venezuela border. Previously, the children in Eteringbang attended the San Martin School in San Martin de Turumban, Bolívar, Venezuela, because of the absence of a school in their village. The school was closed due to the ongoing situation in Venezuela, and children from the community were left without schooling.

To ensure each child has access to education and recognising the threat this presented to the development of young children in the community, the Ministry of Education and the Regional Administration of Cuyuni-Mazaruni stepped in and began the construction of a new facility.

The school is also expected to cater to students from bordering communities in Venezuela.

Additionally, the region is currently trying to source more trained teachers to deliver quality education. Some of these teachers will be trained in teaching English as a second language to provide quality education to the students coming across the border.

Imbaidamai is a traditional mining community adjoining Indigenous lands, while Kako is a community of the Akawaio Indigenous nation, consisting of some 700 residents. Similarly, Eteringbang is also a mining community adjoining Indigenous lands and has seen an influx of immigrants fleeing the economic crisis in neighbouring Venezuela.