Over $60B to be spent on education sector

A total of $60.7 billion has been earmarked for the education sector in this year’s national budget to develop a world class system that ensures equal access to world class education in all levels, according to Minister with the responsibility for finance Dr Ashni Singh.

Singh made this announcement yesterday in the National Assembly during his presentation on the 2021 national budget. He said that the budget will equip the nursery, primary and secondary schools with necessary resources which include highly trained teachers, updated curricula, and reconstruction of schools.

In his speech, he announced that new secondary schools will be constructed in regions Four, Six, and Nine, while schools in other regions will be upgraded. An allocation of $5.2 billion has been made for the construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of educational facilities countrywide.

Meanwhile at the tertiary level, the University of Guyana will receive $3.3 billion to finance the operation of both the Berbice and Turkeyen campuses. In addition, the government is pushing for online training institutes to deliver 20,000 scholarships over the next five years. As a result, $1 billion is being allocated to support online scholarships to be granted in 2021.

The minister said that since the administration took office it has taken immediate action to develop the sector and in doing so, training and development at the teachers training college are in the works. He noted that as part of government’s efforts to modernise teachers’ training, the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) will be offering fully online courses. In addition, $884 million has been allocated to equip and retool the technical and vocational training centres.

Singh explained that the education sector has moved to implement blended modalities to ensure learning for all students. This includes revamping the Guyana Learning Channel, distribution of printed worksheets and other materials to students in the hinterland, riverine, and disadvantaged coastal areas. Also, teachers have been undergoing training in the integration of innovation and information and communications technology (ICT) to enhance the teaching-learning process.