Official Statement on Internet Connectivity and ICT Access in Schools

The Ministry of Education has observed misleading statements circulating on social media asserting that teachers are facing restrictions on internet connectivity services in schools. We wish to categorically affirm that at no point has the Ministry—through the Management Information Systems Unit (MISU), the Regional ICT Department, or any other arm—issued any policy, directive, or guideline to restrict teachers’ access to internet services. No such restriction has ever been implemented or authorized.

Commitment to ICT Access and Integration

Rather than reducing access, the Ministry of Education and the Government of Guyana are making historic, multi-million-dollar investments to expand information and communication technology (ICT) access in our education system. Over the past five years, our ICT budget has seen significant growth, demonstrating our commitment to modernizing education delivery and ensuring equitable access to digital tools for all educators and students. Key initiatives include:

Construction and upgrading of computer laboratories in primary and secondary schools.
Expansion of ICT resources for online, blended, and remote learning.
Large-scale procurement of computing devices, servers, and network equipment.
Installation of comprehensive school networks (both wired and wireless).
Enhancement of connectivity in classrooms, labs, smart rooms, libraries, and administrative spaces.
Deployment of interactive smart boards and digital teaching tools nationwide.

These initiatives are part of our comprehensive ICT in Education Policy and Master Plan, which focuses on integrating ICT as a central pillar in transforming Guyana’s education system and equipping students with 21st-century skills.

Expansion of Connectivity Across Guyana

To date, in collaboration with the National Data Management Authority (NDMA), we have successfully delivered internet connectivity to 1,033 schools, including:

385 Nursery Schools
489 Primary Schools
All Secondary Schools across Guyana

In the past two years, 365 remote and hinterland schools have been connected to high-speed internet. Additionally, 134 schools have transitioned from LTE services to high-speed fiber-optic connectivity, greatly enhancing reliability and bandwidth for teaching and administrative functions.

Whole-School Network Initiative

A major component of our ICT strategy is the Whole-School Network Initiative, aimed at providing full-campus internet coverage to schools across Guyana. For 2025, we plan to roll out installations in:

118 Nursery Schools (installation in progress)
143 Primary Schools (installation scheduled to commence)
85 Secondary Schools (installation scheduled to commence)

Our overarching goal is to ensure every school in Guyana benefits from comprehensive, campus-wide connectivity, including fixed wiring, wireless access points in classrooms, and a robust network backbone.

Clarification on Internet Usage Policies

The educational internet provided to schools is intended to support teaching, learning, EMIS usage, research, and other school operations. As is common practice globally, security filtering and monitoring are in place to facilitate safe and appropriate use of these networks, especially in environments with minors.

Teachers are not restricted from accessing legitimate educational platforms or digital resources. Any occasional connectivity issues with individual devices are typically technical matters, not indicative of national policy. Schools are encouraged to report these issues through established ICT support channels for prompt resolution.

Commitment to Digital Transformation

The Ministry reiterates that internet access is expanding, not reducing. Guyana’s education sector is undergoing a significant digital transformation, ensuring every learner and every teacher benefits from high-quality digital tools, reliable connectivity, and modern classroom technologies. For instance, this year, as part of the National CSEC Mathematics Intervention Programme, 18 hinterland secondary schools have been equipped with interactive smart boards and high-speed internet. Expert Mathematics teachers are using the Microsoft Teams platform to deliver the CSEC curriculum to students in remote regions, ensuring equitable access to quality instruction.

We encourage the public to rely on verified information from official sources and to disregard unfounded claims that mislead the teaching community and society at large.

END.