Berbice High School celebrating centenary

-refurbishing of labs among projects planned

The alumni of the Berbice High School (BHS), in celebration of its 100th year of establishment, will commemorate this milestone with a week of activities with the aim to “train and build a cohesive society.”

Dr. Grantley Walrond, Chairman of the Board heading this project, on Tuesday during a press briefing stated that Guyana has become a fractured society “where there is everything but cohesion.” The solution to this strife, he believes, lies within the schools.

It is with this thought in mind that part of the celebrations includes an essay competition among schools of Region 6, which is intended to engage discussion surrounding social cohesion. It is just one of a number of activities slated for the week of August 31st, 2016 to September 5th, 2016, the final day of which will mark the school’s anniversary.

Established on September 5th, 1916 under the Canadian Presbyterian Church, the school, then built for boys, had only nine students enrolled. Walrond said that one of the aims of the celebrations was to raise awareness in a way that made current and future students feel inspired.

Major plans for the improvement of the school have therefore been envisioned, including an upgrade of the school’s laboratories, and a facelift to the compound and some of the classrooms. The project is estimated to be in the vicinity of $10 million, and will reportedly be funded through monies raised by the alumni and with the collaboration of the Ministry of Education and the Regional administration. There will also be the establishment of at least ten permanent scholarship funds.

Their lineup of activities include a cultural extravaganza, exhibition and fair, a day of sporting activities, (which will feature “intergenerational sports,”) an excursion to the Corentyne Coast and a gala.

Alumni will also be awarded for accomplishments in their respective fields, with lifetime achievement awards also being handed out.