Georgetown : Following intense scrutiny by members of the Opposition benches, the National Assembly approved the Current and Capital expenditures allocated for the Ministry for 2014 as presented by the Minister of Finance, Dr Ashni Singh on March 24.
Of the $32.3B allocated $2. 6M was allocated for the National Library, for rehabilitation works. Questioned by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament Amna Ally, Education Minister Priya Manickchand revealed that the sum would also be used for the various branches located in Linden, New Amsterdam, Anna Regina and Bartica. Ally was assured that those branches are established in those locations for use by members of the public.
Under allocations for the national education policy $18.5 M was allocated for the purchase of vehicles for land transport aiming at improved transportation. For the Ministry administration, $30M targets improved transportation for the purchase of vehicles.
Under training and development, for the teacher’s training complex, $18.5M has been budgeted for the payment of retention, the extension of the building, and the purchase of a photocopier, filing cabinets and water dispensers. The Minister also pointed out that National Centre For Education Resource Development (NCERD) is to be rehabilitated; Cyril Potter College of education (CPCE) will see general repairs along with the Allied Arts building.
his year the 2014 budget has allocated $2.9B towards the construction, rehabilitation, extension and maintenance of educational facilities including a new and expanded Zeeburg Secondary School and the Kato Secondary complex. Moreover, the Ministry will commence implementation of a US$10M Universal Secondary Education initiative, which will facilitate the construction of new secondary schools and provision of materials for improved teaching techniques and technology assisted learning in mathematics.
The teachers’ training college will continue to offer existing programmes, as well as focus on the appraisal and development of their lecturers including having some teachers pursue post graduate degrees. In the area of Information Communication Technology, resources will be allocated to ensure that an additional 2,500 teachers are trained, and all secondary schools are equipped with computer laboratories before the end of 2014.
For Educational delivery for Nursery, Primary and Secondary schools, $960M is allocated towards completion and extension of the One Mile, Parfait Harmonie and Friendship Primary Schools, L’Venture and Kato Secondary schools, Lusignan Nursery School, Sanitary Block at Lusignan Primary School, the teaching Block at St. Agnes Primary School, in addition to Information Technology Laboratories and fences.
Extension will be done on the Roxanne Burnham and Cummings Park Nursery Schools, Tutorial Academy, St. Ignatius, West Demerara, Mahdia, Aishalton and Friendship Secondary schools. There will also be rehabilitation of St. Roses High and Sand Creek Secondary schools, in addition to science and IT labs in various schools.
For President’s College, $18M has been allocated for payment of retention, completion of bridge, provision for electrical works and the rehabilitation of dormitories along with the purchase of beds, desks, chairs, freezers, stools and stoves.
The Kuru Kuru Co-op College has been allocated $4M for rehabilitation of the roof and the upgrade of the electrical system.
Continued emphasis will also be placed on tertiary education with an allocation of $1.4 B towards the operation of both campuses of the University of Guyana (UG), inclusive of $450 M for the student loan programme. Also, through the University’s Science and Technology Support initiative, 14 science and technology buildings will be rehabilitated and equipped, and a feasibility study for the new Centre of Excellence for the Study of Biodiversity will commence. Further, 17 programmes have been identified for curriculum reform which will be designed and tested over a three- year period.
UG has been allocated $65M towards completion of buildings, provision of classrooms, sewerage system, and electrical works. In addition the Berbice campus will see the rehabilitation of building and purchase of equipment with an allocation of $20M.
The recognition of equipping the nation’s young people with technical vocational education training (TVET) skills, linked with entrepreneurship training as an assured option for enabling their viability, will see the expansion of opportunities to include occupational programmes to support the mining and hospitality industries.
The New Amsterdam Technical Institute will see the purchase of air compressor, tractor, brush cutter, tools and equipment for laboratories and workshops with an allocation of $22M.
Further the Government Technical Institute’s $62M will go towards rehabilitation of its ceiling. This allocation will also see the rehabilitation of the Essequibo and Upper Corentyne Technical Institutes and the purchase of fire extinguishers and a welding system for the Leonora Technical Institute.
The sum of $8M was allocated for the purchase of computers, plasma cutter, oven and other equipment for the Guyana Industrial Training Centre, whilst the Carnegie School of Home Economics will be able to acquire equipment through the allocation of $5.5M.
The allocation of $270M will see the purchase of school furniture and equipment for schools and dormitories across the country.
Towards the construction of the Hospitality Institute, $55M has initially been allocated. The budget lists the institute’s establishment as one of its measures towards which US$4M has been allocated. This will ensure world class personnel for the growing tourism industry.
The Linden Technical Institute will see rehabilitation and the purchase of equipment with an allocation of $20M.
Meanwhile under the Teachers Education Project, $200M has been allocated for the delivery of Associate Degree in Education as well as the Bachelor’s Degree in Education.
The allocation of $10,000 for each school child under the public system has not been finalised as to its distribution. Minister Manickchand informed the opposition members that the House will be updated on work in this regard.
Further questions requested clarity on employees, vehicles to be purchased, schools to be rehabilitated and materials to be printed.
Opposition MP Ally accepted the answers provided and the Education Estimates were approved without adjustment.
