The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government has made headlines with the recent commissioning of the Providence Nursery School in Herstelling, a newly reconstructed facility costing $35.7 million, aimed at providing a modern, nurturing learning environment for 120 children.
But beneath the fanfare, a stark reality remains: despite this ambitious infrastructure development program, Guyana’s education system is still plagued by chronic issues that undermine its true potential.
While the Ministry of Education celebrates the 61st nursery school construction since 2021, experts and critics point out that the government’s investment in school buildings is not being matched by equally significant investments in human resources or comprehensive educational policies.
Teachers continue to be paid far less than their regional counterparts, with many having to dip into their own pockets to cover basic supplies like teaching aides, pencils, books, meals and transportation for students.
This failure to properly address the country’s educational needs has left Guyanese students lagging behind their Latin American and Caribbean peers, according to a recent World Bank report. The study showed that children born in Guyana today will only reach 50% of their potential productivity in adulthood due to inadequate education and poor health.
Dr. Terrence Campbell, a vocal critic of the current education system, highlighted recently that “we are failing terribly with our thrust to educate our people. The pass rate for English and Mathematics, at the 2024 National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) was 66.8% and 40.4%, respectively.
He pointed out that of 2021, the secondary dropout rate was cited as 50 per cent. Of the 50 per cent who survive secondary school, and write the CSEC exams, the pass rate for students gaining five subjects or more is 67 per cent.
Campbell, making the case said, “if one were to insist on the inclusion of Math and English in the five subjects, the pass rate dips below 40%. Over ten thousand students leave our school system annually with little or nothing to show for their time in it.”
He also noted that the Ministry of Education has not released updated information on the dropout rate, for society to determine if the situation has improved.
Campbell’s reference to the United Nations Development Programme’ creed that “people and their capabilities should be the ultimate criteria for assessing the development of a country, not economic growth alone,” serves as stark reminder of the educational underdevelopment of Guyana’s children and the need for urgent policy prescription to fix the problems.
