The World Bank has approved US$21 million to reduce flooding along East Demerara and improve education delivery, particularly in Mathematics, the bank disclosed on Thursday.
According to the bank, more than 300,000 people from the flood prone regions of East Demerara will benefit from reduced flooding and climate risks as a result of a US$11 million credit from the International Development Association (IDA) approved on Wednesday by the bank’s Executive Board of Directors.
These IDA credits to the Government of Guyana have a final maturity of 25 years, with a five-year grace period.
The World Bank noted that nearly 90 per cent of Guyana’s population lives in this narrow coastal plain, largely below sea level and vulnerable to climate change.
It added that extreme rainfall in 2005 resulted in flooding and damages estimated at nearly 60 per cent of Gross Domestic Product GDP or US$465 million at the time.
The bank noted that the impact on poverty was evident and many subsistence farmers, small business operators and vendors were affected. Specifically, the project will upgrade critical sections of the East Demerara Water Conservancy dams and channels; improve drainage capacity in priority areas along the East Demerara coast; and increase flood preparedness by installing instruments to monitor hydro-meteorological data.
Meanwhile, the second project approved for US$10 million will increase enrolment in general secondary schools and improve delivery in Mathematics.
“These two credits aim at reducing poverty and providing opportunities for all Guyanese by reducing vulnerability to climate change and ensuring quality secondary education”, said Sophie Sirtaine, World Bank Country Director for the Caribbean. To boost competitiveness, it is essential to address the vulnerability to climate risks and ensure that the skills learnt in the classroom lay the foundation for future work-place success.
About 85 per cent of young Guyanese are enrolled in secondary education. The Government has set an objective to achieve quality universal secondary education.
Among concrete results to be achieved by the project are: 2600 new students from vulnerable areas enrolled in general secondary schools; a pilot technology-assisted learning in Mathematics; and 600 secondary Mathematics teachers trained, the standard for Mathematics secondary school teachers increased, and Math kits distributed to 250 secondary schools.
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