A devastating fire early this morning reduced the Kwakwani Secondary School to ashes, sparking outrage, heartbreak, and urgent concerns about the future of hundreds of students in the remote Region 10 community.
The blaze reportedly began in the early hours before dawn and quickly tore through the wooden sections of the school, leaving little chance for intervention. By the time emergency services arrived, flames had engulfed the main structure, with residents, students, and teachers looking on in horror.
“There was nothing we could do,” said one local resident who watched as the fire consumed the only secondary school in the area. “It’s like losing a part of ourselves. This school raised generations.”
No injuries have been reported, but the physical loss is immense. Kwakwani Secondary was not only a central institution for education—it was a landmark, a symbol of progress in a community already struggling with access to resources and educational infrastructure.
With the new academic year just days away, the disaster has triggered immediate concern about where and how students will continue their studies. Teachers and parents are calling for urgent temporary solutions, including mobile classrooms or the use of community buildings.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, and government officials are expected to visit the scene later today to assess the damage and announce next steps.
This latest fire joins a worrying trend of educational institutions being destroyed by flames over the past five years. Among those previously lost are:
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North West Secondary School in Mabaruma (2023)
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Christ Church Secondary in Georgetown (2023)
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St. George’s High School in Georgetown (2022)
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St. Angela’s Primary School (2021)
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North Ruimveldt Multilateral School (2021)
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Mahdia Secondary Dormitory—where a fire tragically claimed 20 lives (2023)
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Critchlow Labour College, run by the Guyana Trades Union Congress, which was also destroyed by fire in March and July this year (2025)
The destruction of Kwakwani Secondary adds to the growing list of education losses to fire in Guyana—highlighting the vulnerability of public infrastructure and the urgent need for prevention, safety measures, and investment in resilient facilities.
