In a strategic move to enhance secondary education and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Guyana, the Ministry of Education (MoE) has submitted plans to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for construction of the Prospect Secondary School on the East Bank of Demerara (END). This initiative is part of the Guyana Strengthening Human Capital through Education Project, supported by the World Bank.
The envisioned school, situated on a 6.12-acre plot at Prospect is a response to the growing demand for quality education in the region. The project, with a budget of USD$8.1 million, aims not only to address the current need for additional learning spaces but also to accommodate the anticipated rise in student population from adjacent housing developments.
Scheduled for a 15-month construction period, followed by a 12-month defects liability period, the ministry noted that the project underscores the government’s commitment to achieving universal secondary education and providing relevant skills for the labor market. It also emphasized that the construction contract, to be awarded through a competitive bidding process, will be closely monitored for adherence to contractual obligations.
According to project documents, the Prospect Secondary School is designed to accommodate 1000 students and will feature 25 classrooms, specialized laboratories for Information Technology, Language, and Science, as well as departments for Industrial Technology and Home Economics. Additionally, the school will boast facilities for Visual and Performing Arts, a library, administrative block, canteen, sick bay, and recreational areas.
Ensuring inclusivity, the school’s design incorporates universal and special needs access. Ancillary facilities, including guard huts, car parks, septic systems, water reservoirs, and more, will complement the core academic infrastructure.
This ministry has since offered a clarification, stating that while the school was initially announced in 2021, it was not budgeted for in the 2021 budget. Rather, utilizing the funds from the World Bank, it conducted a series of ranging from soil tests, environmental reports, design, and those are only now finished.
Once the construction contract is awarded, the site will be handed over to the contractor, initiating a series of preparatory steps, including site clearing, temporary facility establishment, and collaboration with consultants. This move marks a significant stride in the government’s commitment to providing quality education infrastructure for the current and future generations.
