17 Infant Schools to be Built

Approximately 17 infant schools are to be built across the island, following Cabinet’s approval of a Ministry of Education submission for grants from the Chinese Government to start the construction.
“The Chinese Government and Jamaica have been working very closely over the years, and there are certain grants that the Chinese Government has made to Jamaica, and Cabinet has approved our submission that those grants should be used to build out the infant school infrastructure,” Minister of Education, Hon. Andrew Holness said.
Mr. Holness, who was speaking at the Post Cabinet press briefing Wednesday (August 25) at Jamaica House, said that currently there are about 31infant schools out of a total of approximately 3000 early childhood institutions.

Minister of Education, Hon. Andrew Holness makes a point as he addresses the post- Cabinet press briefing held today (August 25) at Jamaica House.

“The distinction of course is that, in the infant schools students are able to access early childhood education freely: that is they don’t pay a fee. With this submission the Government intends to build out … new early childhood infant schools and that would mean we would be expanding the government’s free provision of early childhood education with the possible grants from the Chinese government,” Mr. Holness said.
Cabinet has also approved a $39 million contract for the purchase of 15,000 bags of long grain rice, for the School Feeding Programme, granted to T Geddes Grant Limited.
The School Feeding Programme is aimed at alleviating short-term hunger in school children, thereby helping to increase their attention and concentration and increase gains in cognitive function and learning.