The construction of the new North Ruimveldt Secondary School is nearing completion but it is now eight months behind schedule.
The contract for the project, valued at $566.9 million, was awarded to Kares Engineering Inc following a tendering process and was signed on August 24, 2022, with an initial completion date set for October 2023, allowing for a 14-month construction period.
During a visit by Stabroek News on Saturday, it was observed that the school’s painting and block work had been completed. However, no contractors were available on-site to comment on whether the school would be ready for the new academic year starting in September.
The original North Ruimveldt Multilateral School was destroyed by a fire of unknown origin on June 19, 2021. At the time of the fire, the school had an enrollment of 512 students and 39 teachers. Despite the fire, 65 students scheduled to write the 2021 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination were able to take their exams in the school’s auditorium, which was not affected by the blaze.
The new school building measures 432 feet in length, 30 feet in width, and 42 feet in height. It features three stories and is designed to accommodate 450 to 500 students. The facility boasts science laboratories, information technology laboratories, and accommodations for teachers, among its many features with the aim of providing an enhanced learning environment for its students.
