As part of efforts to promote environmental sustainability in the region while raising awareness about the importance of protecting local ecosystems, the Guyana Marine Conservation Society (GMCS) has launched Year Two of the Education and Awareness Programme on the Barima Mora Passage, an initiative funded by SBM Offshore Guyana, a GMCS release has stated.
To this end, GMCS initiated vital consultations with educators in the Barima Mora Passage (BMP) area, Mabaruma, and Hosororo earlier this month, to develop and pilot an environmental education curriculum.
Attending the consultations were 14 teachers from riverain schools, including Black Water Primary, Lower Kaituma Primary, St Anselm’s Primary, Unity Square Primary, Aruka Primary, St Cyprian’s Primary, and St Peter & Paul Primary, along with three teachers from Hosororo Primary, two from North West Secondary, and four representatives from the Region 1 Department of Education. The workshop was held at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) boardroom in Mabaruma.
This workshop marks the first of several planned sessions aimed at collaboratively developing an environmental education curriculum tailored to the specific needs of Region One schools. The initiative is part of a broader, four-year grant from SBM Offshore Guyana, focused on enhancing environmental education and awareness within the BMP area for both primary and secondary schools, the release said.
Region One Regional Chairman Brentnol Ashley, who addressed the participants, highlighted the growing threat of climate change, stressing that immediate action is essential. “Today speaks volumes about the importance of our environment and our collective responsibility to mould the young minds in our country,” he was quoted as saying. He noted that GMCS has long been a committed partner to Region One, particularly in the protection of its critical mangrove ecosystems, and encouraged the teachers to continue championing the cause of environmental stewardship.
Meanwhile, according to the release, Region One Regional Education Officer Cliva Joseph in her opening remarks noted, “No educator will say that they are fully educated because they have a passion for continuous learning.” She urged teachers to take full advantage of the opportunity and commended GMCS for its dedication to Region One. Joseph also underscored the significance of community engagement and collaboration in strengthening education, especially in the critical area of environmental education, the release said.
SBM Offshore Guyana reiterated its support for educational and capacity building programmes for indigenous communities which aligns with the company’s commitment to fostering sustainable development in Guyana, and is in keeping with its support for United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4, Quality Education and Goal 10, Reduced Inequality.
According to the release, the project recognises that environmental education is a long-term commitment to both knowledge and action and seeks to develop and pilot an environmental education curriculum in select Region One schools, with GMCS collaborating with the South Rupununi Conservation Society (SRCS) to support this process. By September 2025, the project will reach communities including Imbotero, Smith Creek, Morawhanna, Aruka Mouth, Lower Blackwater, Lower Kaituma, St Anselm, and Unity Square, working with select local schools to implement the curriculum and train teachers in environmental education.
SRCS’s successful development of an Environmental Education Curriculum for indigenous youth in Region Nine, which was shaped through consultations with local communities and teachers, will serve as a model for adapting and tailoring the curriculum to meet the unique needs of Region One students, it added.
This collaborative effort highlights the importance of sustainability through education, empowering the next generation to become environmental stewards who will safeguard their natural resources for years to come, the release added.
