A new Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) centre will be constructed in Charity, on the Essequibo Coast in Region Two, as part of efforts to expand access to teacher training and decentralise the system.
Education Minister Sonia Parag announced the initiative, which will bring training closer to educators in remote communities.
Some $45 million has been allocated in the 2026 budget to begin the project, targeting teachers in the Pomeroon River and surrounding areas who previously had to leave their homes and families to gain certification.
Speaking at a recent forum with headteachers in Region Two, Parag said the facility represents a significant step towards achieving national educational equity.
“Teachers no longer have to travel to wherever or go just online,” the minister stated. “You will have the experience of an in-classroom teaching at CPCE right here in Region Two. And that’s something that you should applaud.”
She said the project is focused on improving the quality of education delivery, adding that investing in teachers’ professional development will lead to better outcomes for students nationwide.
Educators in the region have welcomed the move. Janika Jones, acting headteacher of Jacklow Nursery in the Pomeroon, said the new centre would ease longstanding travel challenges faced by teachers. She recalled having to reach the existing CPCE centre in Anna Regina by 07:00 hrs and leave by 13:00 hrs to return home.
“I have experienced that and it wasn’t easy. We usually have to be on the water top late at nights. Sometimes we reach home after 10:00 p.m. and then we still have to attend to our children, and our families,” Jones said.
The planned facility will include a classroom block, staff offices, a kitchen and washroom facilities, and will be constructed as an elevated ridge-and-beam structure. It is expected to support the government’s goal of increasing the proportion of trained teachers from over 90 per cent to 100 per cent.
The Charity centre follows wider investment in the education sector over the past five years. With CPCE producing record numbers of graduates, including more than 1,300 in the most recent cohort, Parag said the project responds directly to the needs of educators.
“The development of our teachers means the development of our children and our future,” the minister posited.
