Kato school completion, projects at UG on the cards -Henry

The $43.1 billion budgeted for the education sector was yesterday approved by the Committee of Supply with Minister within the Ministry of Education Nicolette Henry being grilled by opposition members on among other things, the controversial Kato Secondary School and why teachers of Region 9 had not been paid as of yesterday for the month of December.

Former education minister Priya Manickchand led the questioning by the opposition members during which Henry disclosed that the maintenance under the ministry was expected to cost less than last year because of the extensive work done and the fact that some new vehicles have been purchased. Also, $200 million is now allocated to the school-feeding programme with 42 new schools being added.

It was opposition MP Nigel Dharamlall who asked Henry about the teachers in Region 9 not having yet been paid, but she retorted that salaries did not come under the line item that was being scrutinized and even so, her ministry was not responsible for ensuring that teachers’ salaries were placed in their bank accounts.

However, Manickchand on the same issue pointed out that it was one government and it would have been “refreshing and comforting” to the affected, listening teachers to be told something positive from the minister. But the opposition member was drowned out by members on the government side who objected to her statement and Chairman Dr Barton Scotland pointed out that the committee has moved into the “realm of political speech.”

Also in next year’s budget for the sector is the completion of a boardroom, a new building to house the offices of the Building and Procurement units among others and repairs to the Carifesta Avenue Sports Complex.

Under training and development, a number of temporary employees are expected to be hired and be attached to the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) and the National Centre for Education Resource Development (NCERD) to work on tool kits in the area of mathematics and literacy.

Workbooks

For nursery education, millions have been allocated for the printing of workbooks, while under primary there is also a huge allocation to cater for the ministry’s drive to address the poor performance by children at that level in mathematics.

For secondary education $61.7 million have been allocated for the completion of the Kato School. Henry said it was a rollover project from last year since they were unable to effect any works because legal advice was being sought. This process continues, she said, but the allocation has been made. Earlier this year a technical audit outlined numerous defects uncovered on the school building which was built under the PPP/C administration.

The school was built at a cost of $728.1 million and the auditing firm said that at least $144 million would be required to fix the defects. Kares Engineering had won the contract for the construction of the school with a bid of $691,972,139 back in 2013 and a timeframe of two years, from April 21, 2013 was given to have the construction completed.

Manickchand, who would have been the minister under whose tenure the contract was granted, asked the minister several questions on the issue including whether the contract was awarded in accordance with normal procurement procedures.

“It is an interesting question, since it was done under your watch,” Henry said before adding that she understood that the procurement procedure was followed in the awarding of the contract.

As she continued to fire questions on the issue, Minister of Social Cohesion Amna Ally at one time advised Manickchand “You tell us.”

Manickchand for her party said that it was “interesting” that nothing was done to the school since she left the ministry and enquired whether there was any danger that the contractual retention period would have expired before the state legal process was completed.

Henry said there was no danger of that happening since the contracting firm in a letter has indicated it will be undertaking the necessary works.

Also to be done next year under secondary education is the construction of the Queen’s College cafeteria to the tune of $34.8 million, an extension of the Bishops’ High School and works to the tune of $100 million on St Rose’s High, all of which are rollover projects from last year. Guidance and counselling rooms are also slated to be created at a number of schools across the nation. New schools would be built at Parfait Harmonie and Good Hope as well along with other works and extension on secondary schools around the country.

The University of Guyana will see the construction of a new administration building, a lecture theatre, rewiring of the library, construction of a student complex, installation of three-volt regulation, purchase of a new generator and tractor with slasher and a new maintenance building.

And in answer to a question, Henry said that the National Trust remains housed in the Main Street building, also works to be effected on the building in which the Walter Roth Museum is housed were for the museum.

President David Granger had announced that the museum would have been moved to accommodate officials from the Ministry of the Presidency but following public objection, the move was eventually stalled, even though at one time the President publicly defended it. There were also plans to move the National Trust.

A new Institute of Creative Arts is expected to be constructed with $52 million to be accessed through a partnership with the Mexican Government. But when it was requested by opposition member Neendkumar that the agreement be laid over in Parliament, the minister said a pact had not yet been hammered out. The institute will either be built in the vicinity of the University of Guyana or at Mocha; it will not be completed next year but it is expected that works will commence.

Neendkumar also asked about the number of contracted workers who have lost their jobs and wanted to know what happened to them.

Henry said she could not give an answer but her colleague Minister Ally helped with “Ha ha.”

“I am glad that Minister Ally could laugh ha ha but it is people’s lives…,” commented Neendkumar who added that those workers were very hurt and were complaining bitterly.