The riverain community of Batavia in Region Seven marked a major milestone on Thursday with the commissioning of its first dedicated nursery school.
For decades, nursery-aged children in Batavia were taught in a shared classroom within the Batavia Primary School, established in 1998. While this arrangement allowed for early childhood education in the village, it often meant limited space and resources for both nursery and primary pupils.
That changed this week with the unveiling of a new, purpose-built facility designed specifically for early learners. Valued at $38 million, the project reflects the Government of Guyana’s broader push to improve education infrastructure in hinterland and remote communities.
Education Minister Priya Manickchand, speaking at the opening, noted that the children of Batavia are now receiving the same resources as their coastal counterparts.
“They’re getting all the resources that we give to every child in Georgetown, but they have an added plus,” she said, adding that “This is their view, it’s the Cuyuni River that is nice and cooling, and so they’re actually better off.”
The minister also highlighted improvements in the training of teachers working in hinterland communities.
“We’ve moved from 43 per cent trained teachers in the hinterland to 86 per cent now. And the teacher resources grant is $5,500 per child in the hinterland, compared to $4,500 on the coast. So, hinterland education is doing far better, and you’re going to see the results shortly,” she said.
With the opening of the Batavia Nursery School, the Ministry of Education continues its mission to provide equal and quality education to all Guyanese children, regardless of geography.
