A $30.8 million nursery school will be constructed at ‘E’ Field Sophia, Cummings Park to accommodate 130 children, Minister of Education Priya Manickchand ann-ounced yesterday.
Manickchand met and interacted with parents at the Cummings Park Community Centre to establish where the school will be built because there was an issue with regards to land space, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported. Initially, the school was slated to be built obliquely opposite the community centre but that land was deemed too small. It was agreed that the school will be built on the northern side of the community centre where there is more space, the report said.
The school, which is scheduled to be completed by December 30, will be equipped with classrooms, a kitchenette and sick bay, head teacher’s office, a storage area, two rooms for students with disabilities and five washrooms, water facility, and an access bridge and guard hut, GINA reported.
The contract for the construction of the school was awarded to R. Kissoon Contracting Services and works will be supervised by the Educa-tion Ministry’s, Engineer-ing Department.
Manickchand said that 118 students have already registered and expansion of the school must be taken into consideration because it is anticipated that more children will be starting school in the coming years. She called on the parents to collaborate with the ministry to ensure that the contractor delivers not only in a timely manner but also ensures that all materials expected for the construction of the school are used, GINA reported.
“We don’t want you to take your children very far, we want them close to home…that is why we are constructing this school, and we are consulting with parents because we need your support so as to ensure quality work is executed by the contractor,” Manickchand was quoted as saying. She suggested that the parents form themselves into a committee to assist in overlooking the project.
The Minister also took the opportunity to enlighten the parents on the $10,000 cash grant which is expected to be disbursed in September. The residents said that they preferred the money to be disbursed through the bank or Western Union. Manickchand said that while the consultation on the distribution of the grant is ongoing, the ministry still has to consult with some financial agencies in this regard, GINA reported.
The initiative was introduced this year and will see the sum of $10 000 being allocated to every child in the public system. The initiative is expected to benefit 188 406 families of the students of nursery, primary, and secondary schools, and will cost a total of $2 billion, the report noted.
