$1B Kato Secondary School set for opening early next year

Dec 01, 2015 News

The new Kato Secondary School has been completed and will be opened to facilitate students early next year.
This latest development continues the trend of making education

The Kato Secondary School complex

accessible to all Guyanese, Government said yesterday.
Located in Region Eight, (Potaro/Siparuni), the Kato Secondary School was specially built to ease the distance they traverse to access secondary level education. Its dormitories will cater for students from far off communities in the region.
Announced by the last administration, the school has been delayed and had raised eyebrows over its cost.
The school is currently being furnished, and according to Chief Education Officer, Olato Sam, the immediate priorities are ensuring that the hiring of teachers and other elements are taken care of in time for 2016.
The school was initially billed at $780M, but Government said the final tally could be about $1B.
The concept of Kato Secondary is to be replicated in other schools. Kwakwani Secondary in Region 10 is such an institution.
For the Kato Secondary School to be self-sustaining, resources such as solar energy and agricultural projects are being considered, Sam pointed out.
Solar energy will be a boost for students while studying for their exams, completing assignments, and of course, providing electricity for all classrooms. Implementation of agricultural projects in the school will supply food for students living-in at the dormitory, the Government statement said.
Ongoing is the filling of vacancies for various positions including Principal (Headmistress/Headmaster), Senior Master/Mistress, Heads of Department and Assistant Mistresses/Masters to teach Social Studies, Mathematics, English and Science, among other subjects. The school has an adjoining administrative block, teachers’ quarters, kitchen and sanitary facilities.
Apart from the dozen classrooms, the school will boast computer and science laboratories, and industrial arts, home economics, visual arts and agriculture departments.