Govt. to plug 5.2B to build, restore and maintain schools
Kaieteur News- The government plans to inject $ 5.2 billion to rehabilitate, build and maintain schools nationwide in the 2021 Budget.
The Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Ashni Singh, said this on Friday as he read out the allocations under the education sector in the National Assembly. In total, the education sector received a $ 60.7 billion allocation this year, a notable increase from last year’s $ 52 billion allocation.
Singh announced that the $ 5.2 billion allocation will be used for a number of projects. Work will begin on a high school in Prospect that will address the growing demands on Demerara East Bank according to Singh. He further said that Abram Zuil High School will be rebuilt which will provide the necessary facilities for learners on the Essequibo Coast.
Education Minister conducting site visit at Good Hope High School under construction
New schools will also be built this year as the government seeks to increase the number of schools nationwide and a review and mapping exercise will also be carried out as they achieve that vision.
Singh spoke about his administration’s immediate focus on pandemic preparedness, which includes providing Personal Protective Equipment for all students and teachers, retrofitting all schools with gutters, sinks and water systems to provide a safe learning environment at all levels. It must be noted that, as a condition for a physical reopening granted last November, all schools are required to have hand washing sinks and sanitation systems to ensure that students, teachers and all other school staff practice hygiene.
Last year, a significant amount was allocated towards the eventual reopening of schools. It provided running water, appropriate ventilation, working toilets, despatching masks for teachers, students and ancillary staff and adequate signage to promote safe behavior on the return of students, teachers and staff to school.
“Even as we adapt education provision to a pandemic sensitive modality, our medium-term goals for the sector are high,” Singh added.
In order to provide world-class education over the next five years, he noted that his administration intends to improve access in building and equipping nursery, primary and secondary schools across the country. They will also inject the necessary resources that include quality teachers, updated curricula and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) laboratories comparable to international standards.