The first-ever AutoCAD lab in Region Five was officially commissioned on Tuesday at the Bygeval Secondary School in Mahaica, opening new opportunities for students to pursue careers in engineering, architecture, and other technical fields.
Equipped with 18 high-performance laptops and an interactive smart screen, the laboratory will allow students to transform traditional technical drawings into advanced 2D and 3D digital models using industry-standard AutoCAD software.
Rameshwar Persaud, a teacher with the Industrial Arts Department, noted that the transition from traditional drafting to computer-aided design will provide students with a more interactive and realistic learning experience.
“I think this is a good initiative and the lab will benefit the students where they will have more of a technological impact into it,” Persaud explained.
He noted that, unlike traditional paper-and-pencil drafting, students can now modify designs digitally and view them as three-dimensional models. This technology is expected to motivate more students to pursue technical drawing and industrial arts.
Meanwhile, Head of the Technical Department Azam Ali also praised the lab, noting that the new system removes many of the difficulties teachers previously faced when guiding students through complex manual revisions.
“Now that we have computers donated by the Ministry of Education, they can sit, come to the classes and get their work done efficiently and very smoothly,” Ali said.
He revealed that students preparing for next year’s Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) examinations will complete their technical drawing assessments entirely in AutoCAD.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Education Sonia Parag described the initiative as a major advancement for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in the region.
She noted that the facility will serve not only Bygeval Secondary but also students from surrounding communities, including Mahaicony and Helena.
“The first-ever [AutoCAD lab] in Region Five is a great day for Bush Lot and for secondary schools in general,” the minister emphasised.
She explained that the government is investing heavily in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to prepare students for Guyana’s rapid expansion.
“Technology is where you will be able to see your real potential. No longer do students have to worry about only two or three career paths. You now have so many options, and this is one of them,” Minister Parag stated.
The minister also encouraged students to embrace innovation and make productive use of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) and computer-aided design tools.
The AutoCAD lab forms part of a wider national initiative aimed at modernising classrooms and expanding access to digital and technical education across Guyana.
The facility prepares students for high-demand careers by equipping them with digital drafting and structural modelling skills essential to sectors like engineering, architecture, and infrastructure development.
Similar laboratories are scheduled to be commissioned in the coming months at North Ruimveldt Secondary School, Hope Secondary School, Zeeburg Secondary School, and New Amsterdam Secondary School as the Ministry of Education continues to expand technical and vocational training opportunities nationwide.