Shulinab Rupununi to Receive $350M Secondary School

August 6 2025

Shulinab Village, located in the remote South Central Rupununi area of Region Nine, is poised for a major educational upgrade with the construction of a $350 million secondary school.

On Tuesday, Minister of Education Priya Manickchand officially turned the sod for the project, which aims to bring comprehensive secondary education to the Indigenous hinterland community.

The initiative includes the construction of dormitories, teachers’ quarters, sanitary blocks, a dining hall, kitchen, tarmac, perimeter fencing, and other critical infrastructure designed to serve both students and teachers.

A total of 20 contracts have been awarded through the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) in accordance with Guyana’s Procurement Laws and Regulations.

The Ministry of Education noted that these contracts ensure transparency, competitiveness, and value for money in the execution of public works.

"This development signals the Government of Guyana’s continued commitment to closing the gap between hinterland and coastland education," the release stated. Students in Shulinab have historically faced challenges accessing secondary education, often having to travel long distances or relocate entirely to continue their studies.

Construction is expected to take approximately six to eight months and will be undertaken by contractors who won bids through the national competitive process.

This new facility is part of the Government of Guyana’s broader mission to achieve universal access to secondary education, particularly in hinterland and Indigenous communities. Currently, more than 20 new secondary schools are under construction across the country.

In Region Nine alone, secondary schools have already been completed at Katoka and Yupukari. Ongoing construction is underway in Maruranau, Nappi, Tabatinga, Karasabai, Massara, Karaudarnau, and now Shulinab.

Regions 1, 6, 7, and 8 are also benefitting from similar developments. In Region 1, five schools—including the recently commissioned North West Secondary—are at varying stages of construction. Region 6 is gaining a new school at Orealla, while Region 7 is advancing projects in Jawalla, Issano, Karrau, and Phillipai. In Region 8, work continues on schools in Micobie, Monkey Mountain, and Kopinang.

The Ministry emphasized that these schools are being designed to serve students who once had limited or no access to secondary education, either relying on primary-top schools or traveling long distances from their home communities.

“This school in Shulinab marks a major development milestone for generations of students. It’s part of a broader push by the Ministry to ensure that every child in Guyana, no matter where they are born, has access to quality education,” the release stated.

With each completed project, the government continues to move closer to its goal of equitable, inclusive, and accessible education for all citizens, regardless of their location.