The Honourable Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, on Friday officially commissioned the highly anticipated Massara Secondary School in Massara Village, Region Nine. This significant milestone marks an important step in the Government’s ongoing mission to improve educational infrastructure across the country and enhance access to secondary education, particularly in remote and underserved communities.
Massara Secondary School is the third secondary school to be completed and commissioned in Region Nine, following the successful completion of schools in Yupukari and Katoka. The addition of Massara to the region’s educational landscape is a pivotal development in the Government’s larger vision for educational expansion. The new facility will serve as an inspiration of opportunity for students, offering them an environment conducive to academic achievement and personal growth.
The construction of the Massara Secondary School is a major part of a nationwide initiative to expand secondary education access. Currently, 42 secondary schools are under construction across the country, with works also ongoing at schools in Maruranau, Nappi, Tabatinga, Shulinab, Karaudarnau, and Karasabai. The commissioning of Massara marks the fourteenth new secondary school to be officially inaugurated in Guyana under the administration’s education reform agenda.
The school, constructed at a cost of $300M, will provide a modern, fully equipped learning environment for 250 students, helping to meet the growing demand for educational facilities in the hinterland. The school’s infrastructure is designed with the future of education in mind, featuring 16 well-designed rooms, including 10 classrooms and 5 specialized laboratories, which will support a diverse range of subjects. The labs include facilities for Information Technology, Science, Home Management and Food & Nutrition, Visual Arts, and Industrial Technology, providing students with hands-on learning opportunities that align with the demands of the 21st century workforce. The school also boasts a library, which will serve as a hub for student research, reading, and extracurricular learning.
Minister Manickchand, speaking at the inauguration ceremony, emphasized that the Massara Secondary School is a symbol of the Government’s continued investment in the future of the nation’s youth, noting that the school stands as proof of the government’s commitment to ensuring that every child regardless of their geography has access to a sound and quality education.
Minister Manickchand added that the school will serve as a space where the students’ minds will be nurtured, giving them access to opportunities which will in turn see their potential being realized.
The newly commissioned Massara Secondary School is set to benefit students not only from Massara but also from the nearby communities of Yarakinta, Toka, and Kwaimatta. These communities, which were previously underserved by adequate secondary education facilities, will now have a state-of-the-art school within reach, reducing the need for long travel to access education.
This investment in education aligns with the Government’s overarching policy to achieve universal access to secondary education across the nation, ensuring that every student is able to complete their secondary school education in a safe, supportive environment. In particular, the expansion of schools in Region Nine is a critical part of the Government’s strategy to bridge the education gap between urban and rural areas, which has historically left hinterland communities at a disadvantage.
Furthermore, the commissioning of Massara Secondary School is part of a broader national strategy to tackle issues such as educational equity, teacher quality, and student success. The Ministry of Education is committed to ensuring that students in every region of Guyana have access to the tools, resources, and trained educators needed to excel.
With the opening of Massara Secondary School, Region Nine is poised to become a stronger hub of academic excellence, empowering youth to achieve their full potential and contribute meaningfully to the development of their communities and the nation.
The Ministry of Education remains steadfast in its mission to provide all Guyanese children with access to quality education, recognizing it as the key to long-term socio-economic growth and national prosperity.
