$300M secondary school attests to Govt. interest in Linden development
--- Prime Minister Hinds
Guyana Chronicle
October 10, 2003
GINA -- THE choice of Linden for the British-funded state-of-the-art Linden Foundation Secondary School attests to the interest that Government has in the development of the mining community.
So emphasized Prime Minister Samuel Hinds on Wednesday, when he delivered the keynote address at the formal commissioning of the school.
"Linden is being well served - in education and other areas of national life - in keeping with the resources available to us," said the Prime Minister. "Government believes that Guyana's human resources are the most precious aspects of our country's development" and the PPP/Civic administration is paying specific attention to teacher training and student learning in its quest to hasten development in Linden and improve education infrastructure across Guyana.
Mr. Hinds said the recent construction of Kwakwani High School and the refurbishing of Kwakwani Secondary also bear testimony to Government's policy on Linden.
Linden Foundation Secondary School, situated at Amelia's Ward, was constructed at a cost of approximately $300 million, with funding by the British Government, under Guyana Education Access Project (GEAP).
It has the capacity to accommodate 1050 secondary students in classes of 35.
The campus-style concrete structure has 30 fully furnished classrooms and is equipped with a computer laboratory, three science laboratories, a library, a staff complex, newly designed furniture and a full range of educational resources.
Total enrollment is 850 students, supported by a staff of 66.
Presenting a brief history of the multi-million dollar project, headmistress Ms. Yvette Phillips deemed the commissioning ceremony "an historic moment," since it marked the realization of a dream.
Ms. Phillips said the amalgamation of McKenzie Primary Tops and the former Foundation Secondary School was conceptualized some years ago, as the need arose to comfortably accommodate students from the East Bank of Linden and those who were formerly taught under poor conditions.
In brief remarks at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, British High Commissioner Steven Hiscock said his country was very happy to have been part of the school project.
"We have provided the material, now you provide the work," Mr. Hiscock said to the students, as he urged them to reflect on the school's motto and "strive for higher heights."
GEAP, which began in 1998, is funded for the most part by the Britain's Department for International Development and is managed by CfBT, a UK educational management organization.
Prime Minister Hinds also urged the students of the new school complex to make the best of the opportunities now available to them, saying he hoped the school would mark the beginning of a new educational tradition in the region.
Among the well-equipped departments now accessible to students are Information Technology, Home Economics, Art and Craft and Technical Drawing.