President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, along with key officials from the Ministry of Education, on Monday commissioned the newly rebuilt North West Secondary School in Mabaruma, Region One, which was tragically destroyed by fire in September 2021.
The state-of-the-art facility, slated to accommodate some 575 students, features 23 classrooms; three laboratories for the science areas of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology; a technical drawing room, and various staff facilities, including washrooms for students with special needs and disabilities and dedicated offices for the Headmaster and Deputy Headmaster.
The school also includes a janitor’s room, two modified elevators for accessibility, four canteens, and eight student washrooms, all designed to foster a conducive learning environment. To ensure safety, 11 fire alarms and smoke detectors will be installed in the school in a short time.
Constructed at $346.2M, the project was awarded to Aruca Investments, with Innovative Engineering Services serving as the project consultant.
This newly constructed school will serve children from various communities, including Hotoquai, Yarakita, Matthews Ridge, Sebai, Red Hill, Powaikuro, Wauna, Wanaina, Kamwatta, White Water, Hobodeia, St. John’s, Kachikamo, St. Cyprians, Barasina, Black Water Savannah, St. Margaret’s, Thomas Hill, Mabaruma Settlement, Mabaruma Township, Mabaruma Compound, Kunaka, Barabina, Hosororo, Wayne, Arkansas, and beyond.
In his feature address, President Ali emphasised that his government’s significant investments in the region’s education sector are aimed at ensuring every child has equitable access to quality education.
He added that the government is focused not only on providing the necessary educational infrastructure, but also on ensuring that trained teachers are available to deliver equitable service.
“Every teacher in the hinterland who is a trained teacher must have the opportunity to become a trained graduate from right where you teach…It is not only an investment in the increases in salaries and benefits; it’s an investment in your personal welfare, in making you more competent, valuable and competitive,” the president said.
He noted that education’s multifaceted quality means it is integrated into every aspect of national life.
The government also recognizes the importance of providing a conducive learning environment that is linked to a quality healthcare system in schools. To support this, the government is screening pupils in nursery and primary schools to determine if any child requires spectacles, dental work, or hearing aids.
President Ali highlighted that every child in the hinterland must have access not only to quality education, but also to quality training in technical areas by 2030.
“By 2030, in all the major centres in the hinterland communities, we want state-of-the-art practical instrument centres and technical institutions that would give you world-class certification right here in your communities. That is the vision that we are bringing by 2030,” he said.
President Ali explained that the government’s comprehensive investments in the region’s education sector since August 2020 total $7 billion. Under the ‘Because We Care’ cash grant initiative, the region has received more than $1.8 billion.
The government has also invested $4 billion in the construction and maintenance of schools across the region. To ensure all students have the necessary textbooks, over $80 million has been allocated for this purpose.
Additionally, more than $1 billion has been invested in the school feeding programme, providing nutritious meals to students.
From 2023 to the present, over $226 million has been distributed to schools, allowing teachers the autonomy to purchase essential supplies for their classrooms.
“These are investments all geared at making our lives easier and a more comfortable environment for your children. You deserve every investment that is coming your way. This is not a gift to you, this is what you deserve,” President Ali emphasised.
Meanwhile, Minister of Education Priya Manickchand highlighted that Northwest Secondary will receive further interventions to ensure the highest quality of education.
Students were encouraged to take full advantage of the Practical Instruction Department (PID) at Northwest Secondary to acquire the necessary skills to aid them in making meaningful contributions to their communities.
The PID was commissioned last month by Minister Manickchand, who also announced plans to construct a multipurpose court at the new school.
“This is not the end of us. This is a good indication that we love you. We believe that you and your children deserve everything this country has to offer,” the minister said.