Latest update September 11th, 2026 10:26 AM
Aug 26, 2025 News
Kaieteur News – Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand on Monday commissioned two new nursery schools in Region Five, one at Hopetown and the other at No. 8 Village, West Coast Berbice.
The $85 million No.8 Nursery School will accommodate 41 children and five trained teachers. This publication understands that before the new building; children were being accommodated under the No. 8 Primary School building which was not optimal for learning.
The Hopetown Nursey School was constructed at a cost of $90 million and will accommodate 80 children and nine trained teachers. Prior to the new school building, the nursery aged children were housed in an old wooden building at the same location.
Delivering remarks at the ceremonies, Minister Manickchand stated that while nursery education is not compulsory in Guyana, “we have about 93 per cent of our children at that age enrolled at nursery, five years ago it was 85 per cent enrolled at nursery and the reason why only 85 per cent children were enrolled is because they didn’t have access to a nursery school.”
Since taking office in 2020, the minister noted that her government has been able to construct 67 new nursery schools across the country.
“While education in Guyana is not compulsory at nursery, we have seen that parents are so hungry, thirsty for their children to start learning and learning early and I think many of us and myself included, we don’t trust ourselves to deliver that education, we want trained teachers so your children can get the best,” she noted.
According to the minister, the government intends to build schools to ensure children leave literate and numerate.
“Not only are your children getting a school, they are getting a high quality education by having trained teachers… We want children leaving here literate, numerate and well-rounded to be able to interact and play and be able to get into primary, ready,” she mentioned.
Meanwhile, speaking at the commissioning of the Hopetown Nursery School, Assistant Chief Education Officer (for nursery) Devendre Persaud stated that the new school is a milestone for the community and a beacon of hope for the youngest members of the society.
“Today is not just about opening the doors to a new building – it is about opening the doors to opportunity. It is about ensuring that every child who enters this space is met with love, care, quality instruction, and an environment that encourages curiosity and creativity,” he said.
He pointed out that nursery education plays a vital role in laying the foundation for lifelong learning and development, and that in these early years, children develop essential cognitive, social, emotional, and motor skills that shape their future academic success and personal growth.
In his charge to the teachers, the assistant Chief Education Officer added that they are the heart of the institution and that their work will lay the foundation upon which every other level of learning will be built.
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