Fire Destroys Private School in Guyana, Government Promises Support
Devastating Blaze at Mae’s School
Mae’s school which has approximately 1,000 students across its Nursery, Primary, and Secondary level destroyed by fire on Wednesday.
Government Pledges Support
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC—The Guyana government says it will “fully” support students affected by the fire on Wednesday at the privately owned Mae’s schools in Subryanville, a neighborhood in Demerara-Mahaica.
“The government will support fully. As you know, we treat our private schools and our private school children the same way we do public schools with every intent and purpose,” said Education Minister Priya Manickchand, adding that the Examinations Division of the Ministry was putting in place systems to accommodate students who would be writing examinations by the Barbados-based Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) and the Grade Six Assessment.
Examinations and Temporary Accommodations
“We are just a couple of weeks away from Grade Six, and we are making sure they are comfortable and seated, and the CXC children are also provided for. So, as I speak, our Exams Division is currently looking at two places to try to make that determination, but they’ll get our full support,” she added.
School’s Statement
In a statement, Mae’s School, which has approximately 1000 students across its Nursery, Primary, and Secondary levels, said that having experienced the “unfortunate event of a fire which destroyed its main structure,” it is “currently putting urgent systems in place to ensure that the educational journey of its children continues uninterrupted.”
It said that the building previously housed the playground and primary and secondary students and that “to date, all students, teachers, and staff members have been safely accounted for, and the Guyana Fire Service has verified this.”
Recovery Efforts
However, the school management said that, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, it “is quickly moving to provide temporary accommodations for all displaced students.
“Parents are advised to maintain contact with their child’s/children’s respective class teachers to stay abreast of all ongoing developments, as they become available,” the Mae School said, thanking the government “and all of the agencies that were on the ground, within minutes of this unfortunate event, to offer support.
“We also thank the many parents for their cooperation and trust in our systems that are being put in place to recover,” it added.
No Reported Casualties
Fire Chief Gregory Wickham said that there were no reported casualties in the blaze that quickly swept through the decades-old wooden building.
Preliminary Report
In a brief statement, the Ministry of Home Affairs said that “preliminary reports indicate that the blaze began before 8:00 am (local time) and that “a parent at the scene recounted seeing a small fire inside one of the buildings. Despite efforts to extinguish it, the flames quickly spread, engulfing the entire school.”
Conclusion
The fire at Mae’s School is a devastating event that has left many students and parents concerned about the future. The Guyana government has pledged to support those affected, and the school is working to ensure that the educational journey of its children continues uninterrupted. As the recovery efforts continue, it is important for parents to maintain contact with their child’s/children’s respective class teachers to stay abreast of all ongoing developments.
FAQs
- What happened at Mae’s School?
The school experienced a devastating fire that destroyed its main structure. - How many students were affected?
Approximately 1,000 students across its Nursery, Primary, and Secondary levels. - What is the government’s response?
The Guyana government has pledged to fully support students affected by the fire. - What are the plans for temporary accommodations?
The school is working with the Ministry of Education to provide temporary accommodations for all displaced students. - Are there any reported casualties?
No, there were no reported casualties in the blaze.
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