Students attending Kwakwani Secondary School are expected to return to classes by the last week of September 2025, following a devastating fire that destroyed a section of the school on Sunday.
The Ministry of Education made this announcement in a press release on August 25, reassuring parents and students that efforts are underway to minimize disruptions to education. “While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, the Ministry of Education, along with regional authorities, is working to ascertain the circumstances to ensure students’ education is not unduly disrupted,” the ministry stated.
The fire, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday, destroyed vital areas of the school, including the Information Technology laboratory, the Head Teacher’s office, an auditorium used as classrooms, the library, staff room, and student and teacher washrooms.
Shortly after the incident, a team led by Deputy Chief Education Officer (Administration) Mrs. Tiffany Harvey, along with Assistant Chief Education Officers Mr. Sherwyn Blackman and Mrs. Sauda Kadir-Grant, visited the site to assess the damage and determine measures for a timely resumption of classes.
The Ministry further assured stakeholders that Kwakwani Secondary School will be rebuilt to modern and higher standards.
According to police reports, the fire started around 3:40 AM, completely engulfing the one-storey concrete building. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation. A Corporal from the Mackenzie Police Station, attending the annual Kwakwani Village Fair nearby, first noticed the flames and alerted the Kwakwani Police Station. Responding officers found the school engulfed in flames.
Local auxiliary staff, including driver Julian Martin and assistant Jishan Martin, attempted to contain the fire with a fire pick-up vehicle but were unable to save the structure.
The school, a key educational institution serving hundreds of students in the Berbice River community, had been experiencing power outages throughout the night, as reported by local utility provider Kwakwani Utility Inc. A security guard on duty noticed smoke coming from the Headmistress’s office during routine checks and promptly reported it to his supervisor, Elizabeth Samuels.
As the community rallies to support the recovery efforts, the Ministry of Education is committed to restoring educational services for the students of Kwakwani Secondary School.
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