Reg. 3 schools receive solar-powered water purification systems

Students across Region Three will benefit from improved access to clean drinking water following the commissioning of 15 solar-powered water purification systems under Project FLOW.

The initiative is being implemented through a partnership involving the Ministry of Education, Recover Guyana, the Greater Guyana Initiative, and ExxonMobil Guyana.

The systems have been installed at secondary schools and technical institutions across the region, with the wider initiative targeting 141 secondary schools, 10 TVET institutions and four special needs schools nationwide by 2030.

According to Minister of Education Sonia Parag, the project aligns with the government’s vision to create safer, healthier learning environments for students.

In her keynote address at the commissioning ceremony at the Tuschen Secondary School, Minister Parag noted that the initiative goes beyond providing purified water to schools and also promotes sustainability and environmental responsibility among students.

It forms part of broader efforts to modernise the education sector while supporting student wellbeing. The initiative is especially beneficial for students in rural and hinterland communities who may not always have easy access to clean drinking water.

“This partnership is extremely important for us. And for me, I see it even more than just providing a service to students,” the education minister stated.

“I see this as having many benefits, not just what it is supposed to be, and what we know it to be as promoting sustainability and ensuring that our environment is clean, but also providing a very crucial service to our people in their communities,” she added.

Minister Parag also encouraged students to embrace leadership and environmental responsibility by taking care of the systems installed in their schools.

Further, she highlighted the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, noting that the FLOW initiative complements ongoing investments in STEM development nationwide.

She thanked Recover Guyana, the Greater Guyana Initiative and ExxonMobil Guyana for partnering with the Ministry of Education to deliver the project.

Project FLOW aims to reduce reliance on single-use plastic bottles while ensuring students and teachers have reliable access to safe drinking water during the school day. (DPI)