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The Ministry of Education Friday signed a contract with DEEN + Partners using an Engineering, Procurement and Construction/Turnkey for the completion of the Good Hope Secondary School on the East Coast of Demerara. The contract valued at US$2,607,879 is being funded by the World Bank under the Guyana Secondary Education Improvement Project.
During remarks at the event Minister of Education Manickchand stated the Good Hope Secondary School is important because it will help to achieve Universal Secondary Education in Guyana. She said that the school will help the Ministry to accommodate more students in secondary schools and to close all primary tops on the East Coast of Demerara.
On completion the school is expected to accommodate 479 pupils will be placed in the school. This, according to Manickchand, would allow for closure of the Paradise Primary Top, the Enterprise Primary Top, and the Enmore Primary Top. She said the school will also reduce overcrowding at the Cummings Lodge Secondary School, Bladen Hall Secondary School, Golden Grove Secondary School and the Plaisance Secondary School.
Currently some 92 children are placed at the school for 2020 who continue to be taught at different schools waiting for the Good Hope Secondary to be completed, said the minister.
The Project Coordinator of the Guyana Secondary Improvement Project, Ms. Zorina Gafoor explained that the original contract to construct the Good Hope Secondary School was awarded in 2018 to B.K. International for US$4,082,506. Work commenced on October 15, 2018, with the original completion date being January 14, 2020. According to Manickchand the firm was unable to deliver despite benefiting from four extensions being given on March 10, 2020, May 18, 2020, June 15, 2020, and August 17, 2020. Eventually the contract with B.K. International was terminated on May 25, 2021.
She said that it was eventually decided to enter into a management/EPC Turnkey contract with a suitable consultant. The project was offered as a direct contract to Deen+Partners who were the supervisory consultants for the project and were familiar with what was required to complete the school. They are expected to complete all outstanding works by June 30, 2030.
Reportedly, outstanding works include installation of all electrical panels and cables to complete electrical connections, installation and connection of all plumbing fittings and fixtures, completion of the fence, pavements, walkways and landscaping, general finishes to windows, doors, roof, walls and ceilings, completion of all built-in furniture, repainting of the entire facility and remedial works to all floors.
