EDU Min Orders Weekly Progress Reports on Hinterland School Projects
September 23, 2025 — Contractors working on delayed education projects in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) will now be required to submit weekly progress reports, complete with photographs, until their assignments are finished.
The directive was issued on Saturday by Minister of Education, Sonia Parag, who toured several school dormitory projects in the region alongside Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Pauline Sukhai.
“We want to keep track of the percentage of works and we also want to have visuals of what is happening on the ground,” Minister Parag said, noting that stricter oversight will ensure timely delivery.
At the Three Mile Secondary School Dormitory, which is due for completion in December but is currently behind schedule, Parag instructed the contractor to extend working hours and double manpower to accelerate progress. Despite challenges in sourcing construction materials, the contractor pledged to meet the deadline. The project involves renovating the existing building and constructing a new dormitory to house female students, replacing the old arrangement where boys and girls shared one facility.
The team also inspected the Bartica Secondary School Dormitory, where three new buildings are being erected. One structure is set to be handed over this Wednesday, while overall completion stands at 70 percent, with final delivery expected by the end of October.
In Karrau, a similar dormitory project is also lagging due to material shortages. Both ministers pressed contractors to make every effort to stay within timelines.
“We are dealing with children, so we have to work,” Parag stressed, underscoring the government’s commitment to expanding education access in the hinterland. “These investments are critical to ensuring every child, no matter where they live, has access to quality secondary education.”
Minister Sukhai echoed this, stating: “We would like to see that all the contracts we have awarded are completed in a timely manner.”
Accompanying the ministers were Permanent Secretary Shannielle Hoosein-Outar and Chief Education Officer Saddam Hussain. The education ministry has pledged to continue monitoring projects nationwide to ensure greater accountability and faster delivery.
