The Ministry of Education on Friday signed a contract worth US$2.6 million for the completion of the Good Hope Secondary School, on the East Coast of Demerara.
The US$2,607,879 Engineer-ing, Procurement and Construc-tion (EPC)/Turnkey contract was awarded to DEEN+Partners.
In a statement, the ministry noted that construction of the school falls under the Guyana Secondary Education Improve-ment Project and is being funded by the World Bank.
Minister of Education Priya Manickchand, during her remarks at the signing, recalled that in 2014 funding was secured from the World Bank along with designs. However, she said that this project along with others only started in 2017 and that many are still incomplete in 2022.
The statement said Project Coordinator of the Guyana Secondary Improvement Project Zorina Gafoor explained that the original contract to construct the school was awarded in 2018 to B.K. International for US$4,082,506. Work commenced on October 15, 2018, with the original completion date being January 14, 2020. However, the Education Minister noted that the firm was unable to deliver despite benefiting from four extensions—March 10, 2020, May 18, 2020, June 15, 2020, and August 17, 2020. Eventually the contract with B.K. International was terminated on May 25, 2021.
Following the termination of the contract with B.K. International, several options were explored as it relates to procurement alternatives to ensure the school was completed. However, it was decided to enter into a management/EPC Turnkey contract with a suitable consultant. The project was offered as a direct contract to Deen+Partners, who were the supervisory consultants for the project and were familiar with what was required to complete the school. They are expected to complete all outstanding works by June 30, 2030.
The ministry said outstanding works include installation of all electrical panels and cables to complete electrical connections, installation and connection of all plumbing fittings and fixtures, completion of the fence, pavements, walkways and landscaping, general finishes to windows, doors, roof, walls and ceilings, completion of all built-in furniture, repainting of the entire facility and remedial works to all floors.
Minister Manickchand explained that the Good Hope Secondary School is important because it will help to achieve universal secondary education in Guyana. She said that the school will help the ministry to accommodate more students in secondary schools and to close all primary tops on the East Coast of Demerara.
Immediately after its completion, 479 pupils will be placed in the school. She said that this will allow the Ministry to close the Paradise Primary Top, the Enterprise Primary Top, and the Enmore Primary Top. The school will also reduce overcrowding at the Cummings Lodge Secondary School, Bladen Hall Secondary School, Golden Grove Secon-dary School and the Plaisance Secondary School.
Additionally, there are currently 92 children placed at the school for 2020 who continue to be taught at different schools waiting for the Good Hope Secondary to be completed.
Minister Manickchand also spoke about the Yarrowkabra Secondary School which is on its way to completion. She said that when that school is finished it will help the Ministry to close the Hauraruni Primary Top, and the Kuru Kururu Primary Top, while eliminating overcrowding at the Soesdyke Secondary School.
In addition, when the Prospect Secondary School is completed, it will help to close the Covent Garden Primary Top, Providence Primary Top, Supply Primary Top, and Diamond Primary Top. The school will also eliminate the overcrowding in Covent Gar-den Secondary, Diamond Secondary and Houston Secondary Schools.
These new schools along with the new building for the St. Rose’s High School, the extensions at East Ruimveldt Secon-dary, St. Winefride’s Secondary, St. Joseph High, Queen’s College, the Bishops’ High and the new building for the St. George’s High School, the children in Georgetown and Region Four will be able to be accommodated comfortably.
