There are currently 2,098 migrant students enrolled in public schools in Guyana, according to the Coordinator of the Ministry of Education’s Disaster Risk Prevention and Migrant Support Unit, Ms. Rampattie Prashad-Bisnauth.

Local and international organisations such as UNICEF and the Pan-American Development Fund have been working along with the Government to provide critical care and services to child migrants, many of whom journeyed to Guyana from neighbouring Venezuela with their parents, and have since settled in a number of regions including Regions 1, 2 and 7.

Project Director of the Pan-American Development Foundation (PADF), Jermaine Grant, said that the Ministry of Education and other agencies have been very supportive of the effective integration of migrants and refugees.

He said that it is notable and laudable that the Ministry of Education has set up a Migrant Support Unit.

Mr. Grant was speaking at the time at prize giving ceremony for the World Refugee Day 2022 Migrant Essay Competition winners.

To further aid in the integration process, the Ministry of Education is moving to develop a language policy.

Chief Education Officer, Dr Marcel Hutson said the policy will be comprehensive, and will take into account a number of languages.

Dr Hutson also noted that the language policy is one of the many programmes and initiatives that the Education Ministry intends to roll out to assist children regardless of their country of origin.

The Education official said the Ministry of Education and the Government view every child in Guyana, regardless of where they come from, as being capable of adding value to the country.

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