MoE rejects misleading portrayal of washroom facilities at Mahdia Primary

The Ministry of Education strongly condemns the misleading representation of washroom facilities at the Mahdia Primary School in Region Eight following the circulation of photographs on social media.

The photographs show two old toilet facilities that are not currently in use and were secured and locked. The ministry has been informed that the locks were broken by a parent when the photographs were taken and subsequently posted on social media, creating the false impression that these are the washroom facilities currently being used by pupils of the school.

This portrayal is deceptive, misleading and irresponsible.

The facts are that Mahdia Primary School has a newly rehabilitated block with eight washrooms, completed under the WASH initiative, which provides improved sanitation facilities for pupils and staff.
The ministry finds it deeply troubling that anyone would seek to use outdated and unused facilities to create a misleading narrative about the conditions under which children are being educated.

There is an important role for public officials, parents and citizens in highlighting genuine deficiencies within the education system. Where legitimate concerns exist, the ministry welcomes scrutiny and remains committed to addressing them. The ministry has established channels through which concerns affecting schools, children and staff can be brought directly to its attention for investigation and appropriate action.

We therefore encourage persons with genuine concerns to utilise these mechanisms, rather than resorting first to social media, where incomplete or misleading information can create unnecessary alarm and undermine efforts to resolve issues effectively.

The Ministry of Education will not allow misinformation to overshadow the significant investments being made to improve school infrastructure and sanitation facilities across Guyana.

We urge members of the public to be responsible when sharing information concerning our schools and, particularly, our children. Political point-scoring must never take precedence over accuracy and truth.
The Ministry of Education remains committed to providing safe, sanitary and conducive learning environments for every child.