Min. Henry conducts site visits to assess readiness of schools for new term

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DPI, Guyana, Saturday, August 25, 2018

Minister of Education Nicolette Henry today visited several secondary schools where rehabilitation works are being conducted. This is to ensure that on September 3, 2018, students are housed in an education-friendly environment.

The schools visited were, Tucville Secondary, Cummings Lodge Secondary, St. Joseph High and the Special Education Needs Diagnostic and Assimilation Centre located in the compound of the Cyril Potter College of Education.

Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry and Special Projects Officer, Ron Eastman examining one of the buildings at Tucville Secondary

Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry [left] in discussion with Head Mistress of Tucville Secondary in the rehabilitated Home Economics room

Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry and Special Projects Officer, Ron Eastman examining one of the buildings at the Cummings Lodge Secondary

Rehabilitation works ongoing at the Cummings Lodge Secondary

Rehabilitation works ongoing at the Cummings Lodge Secondary

Rehabilitation works ongoing at the Cummings Lodge Secondary

Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry after visiting the Special Education Needs Diagnostic and Assimilation Centre located in the compound of the Cyril Potter College of Education

Rehabilitation works at St. Joseph High

Minister Henry said that she was satisfied with what she saw regarding the progress and the quality of work being done to ensure that the school environment is suitable for students and teachers.

Fifth form students of the Cummings Lodge Secondary School, in September, will be housed in an upgraded building with additional classrooms.

“That building existed but for some time now it was out of service and so it is now going to be fully rehabilitated and operational for the new school year” the minister explained.

Minister Henry said that similar visits will be conducted at other educational institutions in Georgetown and schools in the outlying regions will be visited by Regional Education Officers.

“I have received reports from Region Five and Region Six, that suggest their work is also onstream and in keeping with timelines” Minister Henry stated.

During the visit, the minister was also informed that teachers were visiting the schools to ensure that everything is in place and set for September.

Ministry of Education’s Special Projects Officer, Ron Eastman, who accompanied the minister, gave a further update on the progress of the school.

Eastman said that the works currently being undertaken are annual rehabilitation and maintenance works. He indicated that work currently ongoing at the Tucville Secondary is to address damage to walls and the Home Economics Department as a result of flooding. “Those works, we are about ninety percent complete, which mean the school will be ready for reopening.”

Eastman also listed a number of ongoing projects the minister is involved in, namely the reconstruction of the St. Rose’s High School, the construction of the Mathematics and Science building on the University of Guyana’s Turkeyen Campus, a dormitory for the Linden Technical Institute and the renovation of the Christianburg – Wismar Secondary School.

By: Isaiah Braithwaite

Images: Kennyann Bacchus