As part of the government’s five-year Education Strategic Plan (ESP) 2021-2025-Vision 2030, some $74.4 billion is being set aside for the nation’s education sector.
The announcement was made yesterday (Wednesday 26 January 2022) by Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh as he presented Budget 2022.
According to Dr Singh, the huge sum will seek to increase better access to education whilst also looking to reform the school curriculum, train more teachers and build new schools.
Dr Singh noted that, Guyana needs “an education system that delivers a modern, model, and adaptive learning experience is an imperative to realising His Excellency’s vision of a world class education for all.”
He went on to state that, “improved access, quality, and relevance are essential to raising Guyana’s human capital to the levels needed to advance and sustain the imminent transformative economic and social development.”
Accordingly, some $6.6 billion will be used to construct, rehabilitate and maintain several educational facilities across the country. The Senior Minister went on to note that construction works will commence on the Prospect Secondary school, nursery schools at Hydronie, Haslington and Vryheid’s Lust; and primary schools at Bamia/Amelia’s Ward, Kaikan, Karabairu, Zeelugt and Oronoque.
Furthermore, sums have been budgeted for reconstruction works at the North Ruimveldt and North West Secondary schools, which were both destroyed by fire last year.
The Minister also noted that works are ongoing on nursery schools at Queenstown, Martyrsville and Agatash; primary schools at Swan, Vryheid’s Lust, St. Martins, Waramadong; and secondary schools at Abram Zuil and Yarrowkabra. Budget 2022 will provide funds to complete these works.
The government also plans to equip 300 primary school teachers and 125 secondary school teachers with laptops and computing devices as part of government’s response to the learning changes brought on by the pandemic.
Approximately 11,000 tablets and flash drives loaded with teaching materials will be provided to students at the primary and nursery levels to accommodate the growing number of smart classrooms. Some $295.7 million has been set aside for this.
Dr Singh was keen to note that, “for the first time over 260 schools will be monitored using the Education Management Information System (EMIS) which will allow expanded monitoring and supervision”.
Additionally, over $20 million will be used to purchase 2,000 micro-science kits for an additional 100 primary schools whilst some $1.2 billion has been earmarked to procure textbooks for students. And finally, as it relates to improving results in national and regional tests, Mr Singh said, “we aim to have passes on the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) moving from 30 percent in 2021 to no less than 42 percent by 2025, while for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate, performance should move from 30 percent in 2021 to no less than 61 percent by 2025, for students gaining Grades 1 to 3 in five or more subjects, including Mathematics and English.”
