Onderneeming Primary School Commissioned to Advance Education Access in Region 2

Onderneeming Primary School Commissioned to Advance Education Access in Region 2

February 14, 2025 – The Honourable Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, on Wednesday, officially commissioned the Onderneeming Primary School, at Onderneeming on the Essequibo coast, marking a significant milestone in expanding educational access across Guyana.

She was joined by the Honourable Dr. Ashni Singh, Senior Minister within the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance and Public Service, and Mr. Daniel Best, newly appointed President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

The construction of the school represents a collaborative investment by the Government of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and the Caribbean Development Bank under the Basic Needs Trust Fund 10th Programme. The project, valued at $154,551,596, was executed by Builders Hardware and General Supplies, with E & A Consultants Incorporated providing consultancy services.

In her address, Minister Manickchand highlighted Guyana’s remarkable journey from being a Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) to becoming one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, achieved through prudent management and strategic investments.

“While we were a heavily indebted poor country, without a drop of oil or even the prospects of drilling for oil, we moved our country with prudent management, wise investments, and a steady hand driven by the political desire to see every corner of this country do well. From a HIPC country, to a middle-income country, to one of the fastest-growing economies in the world – and that’s what we did with prudent, political, and economic management,” Minister Manickchand stated.

She also underscored Guyana’s strides in achieving universal primary education and the Government’s commitment to providing universal secondary education by 2026.

“Guyana, although we do not have compulsory nursery education, has the highest enrollment rate in the Commonwealth Caribbean at 90%. Those who are not enrolled are not because they do not have schools, and by the end of 2025, that will change. The UN has declared us to have achieved universal primary education. With our newfound wealth, by the end of 2026, Guyana is going to have universal secondary education,” the Minister affirmed.

Mr. Daniel Best, President of the CDB, emphasized the fundamental role of education in development.

“Education is the cornerstone of development and progress. It empowers individuals, transforms communities, and lays the foundation for a brighter future. Today, you are taking a monumental step in ensuring that every child in this community has access to the education they rightfully deserve.

This is what development is all about – ensuring that our children have access to more and better opportunities than we did. This is how we rise, strengthen families, communities, and our countries. This is how our region becomes better. The CDB, through its Basic Needs Trust Fund Programme, is absolutely thrilled to be your partner in this journey,” Mr. Best said.

The commissioning of the Onderneeming Primary School reflects the Government of Guyana’s unwavering commitment to enhancing education infrastructure and ensuring every child, regardless of their location, has access to quality education.