The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved financing of US$44 million for the Guyana Strengthening Human Capital through Education Project.
A release from the World Bank said that the project will focus on expanding access to quality education at the secondary level, as well as improving technical and vocational training (TVET) to meet the needs of the labor market. The funding is intended to prepare Guyanese citizens to excel in emerging sectors of the economy including climate-resilient agriculture, low-carbon technology, and digital development.
Activities under the project are expected to benefit at least 60,744 students and 2,128 teachers and principals at the secondary level, the release disclosed. At the TVET level, a minimum of 600 students and 140 secondary and post-secondary TVET trainers will benefit.
The project will support the piloting and the rollout of a new curriculum for grades 7-9, which emphasizes environmental stewardship and climate change, integrated into social studies and science for grades 7 and 9. The project will also fund textbooks for grades 7-11 to support the rollout of the new curriculum and the urgent need for learning recovery following the pandemic.
Following the learning losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, project activities will encompass an early warning system to help teachers and principals identify and support students at risk of dropping out. General secondary schools will also be constructed or rehabilitated to improve the learning environment for students, as well as improving infrastructure, climate resilience and access to education for all students.
The project will also support technical and vocational training, which will include transferrable skills to equip students for a changing labour force, including digital competency skills, the release added.
