The Ministry of Education on Wednesday signed a $566.9M contract, followed by the sod turning for the reconstruction of the new North Ruimveldt Multilateral Secondary School, which was razed by a fire in 2021.
The reconstruction of the school is expected to complete within 14 months.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education Alfred King and Kares Engineering Inc, the contracting company, signed the contract in the presence of Education Minister Priya Manickchand.
The project will see a three-storey building constructed to accommodate about 500 students upon completion. It will be fitted with modern amenities such as science and IT labs, new and remodelled classrooms, and sanitary blocks.
Minister of Education Priya Manickchand, during her address at the event, noted that a domino effect occurs whenever a school is destroyed, which in turn has an adverse effect on learners.
She also noted that students are affected when a project of this nature is not completed on time.
Minister Manickchand said that the details regarding construction would be made public so that members of the community and the relevant authorities can hold the contracting company accountable.
“When contractors fail to do what they’re supposed to do at the quality they’re supposed to do it, children suffer, and it’s a different dispensation […] I am going to be harsher and vigilant on delivery.”
Meanwhile, the School’s Headmistress, Allison Cosbert, said she is pleased that the ministry has reached this stage.
“After the destruction, a year ago, it really had a toll on my staff, and it was really difficult for us to cope after then. However, with the support we got from the ministry, we were able to hold on to hope.”
