Santa Rosa Secondary gets new school bus
– students residing in far-flung areas to benefit
DPI, Guyana, Thursday, May 31, 2018
Students of the Santa Rosa Secondary School received a nineteen-seater bus today. The vehicle will bring relief to students who travel as much as twelve miles (to and from school) on a daily basis.
After officially presenting the bus, Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Sydney Allicock reiterated the administration pledge to provide equal access to quality education for all Guyanese. This is being achieved, he reminded, through President David Granger’s 5Bs initiative which provides boats, buses, bicycles, breakfast and books to school children countrywide.
The Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs, as a supporting agency recognised the need for buses in many hinterland communities and made provisions in its budget to address this Minister Allicock noted. “We have over 212 communities across the country, and while we would like to do more, this is one step forward in the right direction,” he added.
The Minister also took the opportunity to encourage the students to take their education seriously since they are future leaders.
At a simple handing over ceremony at the school’s compound, Headmaster Glynn De La Cruz explained that while some of the students are housed at the school’s dormitory, a large percentage walk a great distance to attend school.
“I must thank the government on behalf of our students, staff and the parents. Transportation is an issue for us here at the Santa Rosa village so we are grateful. We will care it and make the maximum use of it,” De LaCruz said.
Newly elected Toshao of Santa Rosa, Whanita Phillips said that she was one of the persons who lobbied for transportation during her tenure as president of the school’s Parent Teachers Association (PTA). She expressed happiness in being able to witness it becoming a reality even as she celebrated her new appointment.
The Santa Rosa Secondary School currently houses approximately 700 students, who either reside in Santa Rosa or its satellite communities.
Minister Sydney Allicock is in the region, for the next three days, handing over busses and other equipment to schools at Thomas Hill and Port Kaituma in the Mabaruma and Matarkai sub-Districts respectively.
The minister was accompanied by Deputy Permanent Secretary Sherry Samantha Fidee, Ministerial Advisor Mervyn Williams and Legal Assistant Mariam Andrew and other staffers.
By: Synieka Thorne
Images: Tejpaul Bridgemohan.