$45M spent on upgrading Rosignol Secondary to A List schoo
Government has spent $45M on improving the Rosignol Secondary school, in Region Five to an A List School. The money was expended on text books, chemical and laboratory equipment, physical rehabilitation, computers and furniture to bring it to A List level, and on Tuesday, Education Minister Priya Manickchand commissioned the upgraded school.
Minister of Education Priya Manickchand during an address
to those gathered for the commissioning of the Rosignol
Secondary School as an A List school
The school, which was offering 16 subjects, has now added six others; Biology, Physics, Economics, Building Technology, Technical Drawing and Spanish, and soon Visual Arts and Mechanical Engineering Technology will be added.
To bring Rosignol Secondary to an A List school, a block was built to house two science labs, and the old labs were converted into five classrooms.
Major renovation work was done, while 21 computers were installed for Information Technology and materials and equipment bought for Home Economics.
The Industrial Technology labs were renovated and equipped with furniture and materials while space was created for an agricultural science lab.
In the area of sport, a tarmac was constructed to facilitate games and sports gear was bought.
The gathering at the commissioning of the Rosignol
Secondary School as an A List institution
Each child has the recommended text in the following 15 subjects – Mathematics, English A, English B, Social Studies, Integrated Science, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Food and Nutrition, Home Economics Management, Clothing and Textiles, Principles Of Accounts, Principles Of Business, Office Administration and Economics.
There are class sets for the following 4 subjects – Physical Education, Agricultural Science, History and Geography.
For Grades Seven to Nine, each child has the recommended text for English, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies. There are also class sets for the following subjects – Agricultural Science, Home Economics and Spanish.
Rosignol Secondary requires a cadre of 36 teachers, but now has one less. Eighteen of them are trained, with seven being graduates. Four additional trained teachers were appointed to this school this year to teach Biology, Physics, and Spanish English A and Mathematics.
Minister of Education Priya Manickchand and students and
teachers of the Rosignol Secondary School during the
unveiling of the plaque
Meanwhile, Minister Manickchand speaking at the commissioning said that, “Education is the only tool that could change your life…the only way we can secure the future of our children is by giving them an education, the only thing you can give a child and no one can take it away from them.”
The Education Minister said that the only way to ensure that the country’s children are equal is to put the necessary infrastructure and human resources in place, and the PPP/C Government understands that, and it is for this reason that the education sector takes up a large chunk of the national budget annually.
This investment, Minister Manickchand said, has produced results in that, today because of access to education, poverty has been cut in half which is significant and 80% of the secondary age children have access to secondary schools, 70% of the teachers are trained, and Guyana has been able to attain universal primary education. Government is now working to achieve universal secondary education in keeping with the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) Number 2.
Minister of Education Priya Manickchand in the Home
Economics department during a tour
Ministry Manickchand said that Region Five has already achieved universal secondary education, and complemented the region for the work it has been doing to sustain the quality of education delivered.
She said that even as the ministry is looking at building schools in some other areas, there is need to improve the quality of education delivered.
“It’s not us alone, all around the world this conversation is happening, how we make sure the children get a proper education…government has ensured that we dedicate a large amount on education to ensure that happened”.
The Science laboratory
One of the criticisms, she said is that children have to go to extra lessons and the ministry will be looking into that issue. However, she said that this will not be possible without the partnership of the parents, teachers and the regional administration.
She urged the regional educational officers to be stern and ensure that the school curriculum is completed, and the teachers, to be the very best they can, and ensure they deliver the quality of education that is expected.
Minister Manickchand said that the parents also have a major role to play. “When you check all the children that are doing well, they have parents that are very supportive, not rich or educated, but they go to the PTAs and stay up and study with their children,” she said.
Minister Manickchand also charged the students to make full use of the opportunity that have been given them, and work hard so that in less than five years, the school can produce the best in the Caribbean at all levels.
Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand during a tour in
the computer lab
Region Five Chairman, Bindrabhan Bisnauth expressed happiness that the school has been made an A List institution, and very soon Bygeval Secondary school will be converted as well.
Bisnauth promised that the regional administration will continue to support the school’s programme, and make representation when necessary. He said that the region will continue to ensure that it becomes one of the best in the country.
Recently, a new wing was commissioned at the Fort Wellington Secondary School, also in Region Five to accommodate 150 grade seven students.
Other schools in Region Five to be commissioned include Novar Primary (extension), new Woodley Park Secondary School, and the Bygeval Secondary School as an A- List School.
