Chief Education Officer, Olato Sam yesterday commissioned a nursery school, built to ‘new era’ specifications, at a cost of approximately $15M at Good Hope Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara.
“Education is our baby and we need to nurture it”, Regional Executive Officer of Region 4, Deolall Rooplall stated at the event.
A total of $20M was allocated to the completion of the project but Rooplall explained that through tight negotiations the cost was brought down to approximately $15M. The remainder from the initial allocated sum was used to cover the floors of four other nursery schools in tiles.
The project was initiated after the Good Hope community produced a large number of school-aged children who thronged the Lusignan and Mon Repos nursery schools. The single-storey flat was established in March, 2014 and opened its doors later in September, 2014 to 81 children, 49 boys and 32 girls, and four teachers. The school is equipped with washroom facilities, a sick bay, a leisure area, a mini playground and is set to accommodate up to 100 students in its four classrooms.
Clement Corlette, Chairman of Region Four, dubbed the school a ‘new era’ one as he explained that the commissioning of the school brought the total count to 136 with 57 being nurseries.
Corlette stated that the commissioning of the school will not only be beneficial to the children of Good Hope, but also the entire community.
Giving the feature address in the stead of Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, Sam praised the contribution of females to the
teaching profession in the country and
highlighted the need for a closer parent-teacher-student interaction in not only the community, but also in the schools.
The event was closed off with the handing over of the keys to the headmistress and the planting of an almond tree in the school’s compound.
