A new $2.6 Billion Christianburg-Wismar Secondary School will be built in Linden as a world class teaching and learning institution.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips and Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand turned the sod for the new school on Monday.

The Prime Minister, who is a former student of the school, said he is a proud product of the educational institution, which continues to serve as a learning ground not only for children of Linden, but those across the region.

Prime Minister Phillips said the move to construct a new school is in keeping with a commitment made to the people of Linden, even before he became Prime Minister, and was renewed in 2023 after being told of the deteriorating state of the current school building.

“When I stood before you prior to 2020, that promise was made, today, I return with my ministerial colleagues and government officials to deliver on that promise, to turn the sod and fulfil that promised with a modern world class school,” the Prime Minister said.

He said once the new school is completed, the old building will be demolished, and a playground will be built for the students of the school.

Principal of the Christianburg Wismar Secondary School, Shellanne Craigwell said the student population continues to grow at the school, which was first built in 1975. She said a newer and bigger facility was needed.

“Over the years, three major challenges have significantly impacted the institution. First, surface erosion has compromised the foundation of the current school building. Second, the lack of timely and adequate maintenance has led to further deterioration of the physical infrastructure. Thirdly, and perhaps most pressing is the issue of over population. A school initially built for 500, now serves more than 700 students and a teaching staff of over a hundred. This overcrowding has resulted in congested classrooms and cramped staff rooms, making it increasingly difficult to maintain effective teaching and learning environments,” the principal explained.

She said the construction of a new facility with adequate space and infrastructure will go a long way in addressing the issues that the school currently faces.

The World Bank is funding the construction of the new school, and according to the bank’s Group Representative for Guyana, Diletta Doretti, the World Bank is pleased to support investments in the Education Sector.

Doretti said globally, the World Bank supports educational projects, such as the construction of schools to increase access to quality education, and Guyana is not excluded.

It was further explained that the World Bank has worked to improve the delivery of education from nursery right to tertiary across Guyana, and the turning of the sod to mark the commencement of construction of the new secondary school in Linden is testament of their partnership and commitment to education.

“Specifically, regarding the school that we are turning the sod today, it is part of the ‘Guyana Strengthening Human Capital Through Education Project’ and the project seeks to broaden access to quality secondary education including technical and vocational education. It also focuses on providing learning environments and better and more modern educational space,” Doretti explained.

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand said the move to reconstruct the school forms part of the five pillars in the Education System intended to improve access to quality education in environments that are conducive for learning.

Almost five years after taking office, Minister Manickchand said the Government is pleased that Guyana is much closer to achieving universal secondary education.

“Right now, as we speak in the last five years, up to today’s date, we have built or are in the process of building in only Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine, 22 new secondary schools across the hinterland, which is the most underserved part of secondary education in the country,” Minister Manickchand said.

The new Christianburg Wismar Secondary School is designed to accommodate 1,000 students and 107 teachers.

Minister Manickchand said the Government has also placed significant focus on training of teachers with the intention to improve the quality of education delivered across the country.

Chinese company, Power China Construction, has been awarded the contract to build the school, with a duration for construction of 17 months.

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