The Exceptional Learners’ Centre at Cottonfield, Essequibo Coast was commissioned on Wednesday. It is the first facility in Region Two dedicated to children with special education needs.
The $94 million institution was funded by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), and about 30 children with special education needs are already enrolled.
The school was designed to serve as a lifeline for children with disabilities, Keon Cheong, Assistant Chief Education Officer- Special Education Needs, said.
“This institution is a hub for early intervention for learners on the autism spectrum, for those with intellectual disabilities and those with sensory impairments,” Cheong said during remarks adding that it caters to children with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, fragile X syndrome, and those on the autism spectrum.
The Learning Centre
The facility is tailored to the unique needs of each child, offering accommodations that facilitate learning across different categories of disabilities.
All current learners were diagnosed with an intervention plan to guide them.
“These institutions transform lives, providing access to education and opportunities that can change the trajectory of a child’s future,” Cheong said.
According to CDB President, Daniel Best who is in Guyana on an official three-day visit, the school represents a monumental step in ensuring that children with special needs have access to the education and resources they deserve.
Meanwhile, President Irfaan Ali, in his remarks, reaffirmed the government’s dedication to “dismantling” barriers that have prevented children with special needs from receiving quality education.
“We recognise that there are many children with special needs that have faced undue barriers, barriers that have denied them the quality education they deserve, that have made learning environments inaccessible.
“And when we committed that we are going to change that, we first embraced it and said we don’t agree with that and then invest and said we are going to change it and that is what you are seeing,” President Ali said.
As part of this commitment, the facility will integrate health services to provide on-site monthly medical checkups. This, President Ali explained, will reduce the strain on parents and make healthcare more accessible.
Facilities for physical activities within the school’s yard will also be developed, ensuring that learners have access to recreational spaces.
The design of the Cottonfield facility is intended to be replicated in other regions and even other countries, President Ali announced.
Meanwhile, in a few weeks, another special needs facility will be opened, this time in Region Three.
Additionally, special buses will be allocated to each region to support transportation for special education learners. President Ali said that resources have already been set aside in the 2025 National Budget for this initiative.
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