Sixty more schools for rehabilitation

Stabroek News
February 28, 1998


THE Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved funding for the rehabilitation or reconstruction of some 60 primary schools under the Primary Education Improvement Project (PEIP) and tenders are to be advertised shortly

Education Minister, Dr Dale Bisnauth, made the disclosure at the signing ceremony of a contract to rehabilitate St Phillip's Primary in his Brickdam Office yesterday.

Dr Bisnauth said that of the 100 schools which were part of a condition survey undertaken by the ministry last year, 60 will receive funding for rehabilitation. These are in addition to those already rehabilitated or rebuilt under the first phase of the Government of Guyana/IDB project.

Among the schools earmarked for rehabilitation or reconstruction in this phase are West Ruimveldt Primary and St Margaret's Primary in Georgetown, Lichfield Primary in Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice) and Santa Rosa Primary in Region One (Barima/Waini).

Meanwhile, St Phillip's Primary School in Werk-en-Rust is to be completely rehabilitated under the PEIP to the tune of $10.3 million. The large school building, which is generally felt to be underpopulated, is currently being used to house some students of St Mary's Community High.

The rehabilitated building is expected to house the primary as well as a nursery school. However, Dr Bisnauth said that there were plans to eventually convert St Phillip's to a secondary school and to make it one of the best in the South Georgetown area.

The contract for the school's rehabilitation was signed by the Education Minister and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education Hydar Ally and the contractor Tameshwar Sowdagar of General Contractors Ltd.

The complete renovation works include electrical installation, the construction of a sanitary block with adequate potable water supply and fencing of the upgraded compound. The project which gets underway early next month is due for completion within an eight-month period. (Miranda La Rose)