The $850 million Kato Secondary School in Region Eight (Potaro/Sipuruni) was officially commissioned on Friday capping tumultuous years of construction and remedial works.
Constructed by Kares Engineering at a cost of $728.1 million, the school was never occupied after it was found to be riddled with major defects after construction ended in 2015. An audit by Rodrigues Architects Limited subsequently found that the building was unsafe for children and that at least $144 million would be required to fix the defects. Kares was subsequently allowed to complete all corrective works on the school, at no cost to the government, under the supervision of Vikab Engineering, which was selected to oversee the works at a cost of $29.2 million.
In a press release on Friday, the Ministry of Education (MoE) said that an additional $55 million was expended for furnishings and $37 million for the installation of the photovoltaic system at the school.
The release said that the state-of-the-art structure features several buildings: an administrative building, a student dormitory with dining facilities, a teachers’ quarter, the main teaching block with a library, science and information technology labs, a smart classroom as well as the Home Economics and Industrial Arts Departments.
Currently, the Grade B School has a student population of 295 along with 11 teachers and 30 supporting staff.
The release said that the commissioning of the state-of-the-art institution was witnessed by Minister of Education Dr Nicolette Henry, Minister of Public Telecommunications Catherine Hughes and Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan.
In delivering the feature address, Henry expressed her delight that the school was finally finished and commissioned. The minister told the gathering that the process of arriving at this juncture was an interesting one. This, she said, provided the ministry with the lessons of persistence and staying the course, according to the release. Henry said that the completion of the structure can only improve the quality of life for that community since quality education will be provided in a modern space.
Further, the release said, Henry observed that having the facility is not the end of the road, rather it is the beginning of a paradigm shift, putting the people first. She added that the event is testimony to the fact that the MoE is serious about reducing the disparity that exists between the coastland and the hinterland.
MoE Permanent Secretary Adele Clarke, in her address, explained that in 2010, the ministry recognised the need for an additional secondary school in that area since there was overcrowding at the Paramakatoi Secondary at the time.
It was this that birthed the idea of having a new school in the North Pakaraimas area, the release said. According to Clarke, initially, there was a strong debate as to where the new school should be located but Kato became the preferred option. Having completed the tendering process in December 2012, a contract was signed to the tune of over $728 million for the construction of the building.
Chief Education Officer (CEO) Marcel Hutson, in proffering remarks, said that the occasion was a significant one because a state-of-the-art school has been built in the hinterland community to serve the nation’s children.
In the current setting, education is both a necessity and an investment which everyone should embrace with the seriousness that it deserves, he said, according to the release. Further, the former teacher posited that the era where education is acquired or delivered in crowded and stressful classrooms is becoming an issue of the past. The CEO said the ministry has taken a firm stand in ensuring that its policy on education as a top priority, is fulfilled with the provision of proper infrastructure and sound curricular, the release said.
