Special needs school for Schoonard, Region Three

GINA, GUYANA, Thursday, December 15, 2016

Funding for a school to serve children in Region Three with learning and attention disabilities has been approved by the National Assembly.

The National Assembly passed a $5.050Billion Budget for Region Three for 2017 this morning. Under the Region’s 2017 spending is an allocation of $155.700Million for the provision of building, schools, sanitary blocks, quarters, ramps and revetment and gas lines.

Specifically under this allocation is the provision of $30 Million for the construction and equipment of a special needs school at Schnoonard, according to Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan.

Minister Bulkan, who also provided a breakdown of the remaining projects covered under the $155.700 Million allocation, explained that $35 Million will cover the completion of the Region’s Department of Education building at Plantain Walk, whilst $20 Million will cater for the construction of a cold storage at the Region’s Department of Education compound at Plantain Walk.

Minister Bulkan explained that construction of the cold storage will ensure adequate storage of the juices for the Region’s schools that is supplied under the Ministry of Education’s School Feeding Programme.

Of the remaining $155.700 Million, Minister Bulkan explained, $5Millionwill go towards the construction of a sanitary block at Vreed-en-Hoop, $2 Million covers the construction of boat house at Parika; and $ 6Million each is allotted for the provision of ramps and revetments at Northern Hogg Island and Upper Bonasika primary schools respectively.

The construction of sanitary blocks will be done at Nooitgedacht Nursery, at a cost of $1.5Million, at San Souci, $4 Million, and at Hague, $1Million.

The construction and enclosure of living quarters at Great Troolie, to cater for teachers from the coast is funded under a provision of $4Million. The construction of Headmaster’s quarters at Northern Hogg Island, Caria Caria, Upper Bonasika and Western Hogg Island Primary will be covered under a cost of $10 Million, $9 Million, $9 Million and $9 Million, respectively.

Meanwhile the construction of gas lines at the science laboratory at the Patentia Secondary will be funded under a budgeted sum of $2Million. Similar activities at the Essequibo Island Secondary in Wakenaam are covered under a budgeted sum of $2.2Million.

Government has been working to ensure an inclusive education sector that allows every child in Guyana the opportunity to be educated. The provision of access to appropriate educational facilities is part of Government’s effort to ensure that those children, with special needs are part of this inclusivity.

 

By: Neola Damon