By Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News |
Children with special education needs and disabilities are set to benefit from significantly expanded government support, as plans move forward to establish Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) centres in every region across Guyana.
Minister of Education Sonia Parag has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building a more inclusive education system—one that caters not only to academically high-performing students, but also to children who require specialised attention and tailored learning support.
According to the Minister, the initiative will be rolled out over the next five years, with SEND centres planned for all regions to ensure equitable access to education services for children with diverse learning and developmental needs.
“In the next five years, we are going to establish a SEND centre in every single region. The work has already started,” Minister Parag said.
She recently visited several SEND centres in Region Five and expressed satisfaction with the quality of care, instruction, and resources being provided to students. The Minister noted that the centres demonstrate the government’s broader philosophy that education must be responsive to the needs of every child.
“A government cannot only work with one category of students. We have to ensure that every child is developing, whatever the needs of that child may be,” she explained.
Beyond infrastructure, the Ministry of Education is also prioritising the creation of suitable learning spaces and supportive environments where children can meet developmental milestones at their own pace. A key component of the plan includes ongoing training for teachers in special education to strengthen the delivery of specialised instruction nationwide.
Currently, Guyana has 49 special education needs institutions serving approximately 1,300 learners across the country. The expansion of SEND centres is expected to greatly enhance access, improve service delivery, and reduce disparities in educational support for children with disabilities.
The initiative forms part of the government’s wider education reform agenda aimed at inclusivity, equity, and long-term human development.
