The students of Annandale Secondary School have been provided with a new building, courtesy of a collaboration between the Government of Guyana and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).
Operationalised through the Basic Needs Trust Fund, the collaboration has seen more than $30 million spent to construct a building, which will house some 200 students in eight classrooms.
The students were previously housed in the auditorium of the school’s main building, which has severely deteriorated.
The building, which was handed over yesterday to Head Teacher Nicholas Persaud, was constructed to reduce overcrowding as well create a learning and teaching environment more conducive to the mental and physical development of students.
The construction of the 100ft two-storey building began on September 15, 2015 and ended on February 25, 2016; three weeks’ shy of the proposed six-month schedule.
The contracting firm, R. Kissoon and Sons, was congratulated by representatives of the Ministry of Education on the speed and neatness which was evident in its execution of the project.
Speaking at the handing over, Project Manager Michael Singh noted that it was expected that these “improvements accompanied by a strong academic programme will lead to improved educational effectiveness in the school and spillovers into the community.” He encouraged the students to take care of the space so that they and those who arrive after them can benefit from it.
Finance Secretary Dr Hector Butts, who was present, also encouraged the students to take advantage of the opportunity offered by the improved learning environment.
