Education Minister Opens New Block of Classrooms at Barracks Road Primary

A new block of classrooms at the Barracks Road Primary School, in Montego Bay, St. James, was officially opened  today (February 19), by Education Minister, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites.

The classrooms, which are accommodating students from grades 4 and 6 as well as those in a special literacy programme, were built at a cost of $25 million.

In his address at the ceremony, Rev.  Thwaites said that Barracks Road Primary has been delivering very good examination results and the addition to the school plant will ensure that the trend continues.

“In the midst of inner city Montego Bay with a pedigree of more than a hundred years, Barracks Road Primary is delivering some of the most outstanding educational outcomes anywhere,” he said.

The Minister pointed out that the additional classrooms represent a part of a major programme which the Government has undertaken across the island to improve the physical plant at schools.

Rev. Thwaites urged parents to send their children to school, pointing out that one day’s absence represents a 20 per cent loss of contact time between the pupil and the teacher.

“Send the children to school every day. Even if you don’t have the lunch money, send the child to school, because the school feeding programme will make sure that your child gets a nutritious meal per day,” he said.

Meanwhile, Rev.  Thwaites is calling on Jamaicans to support members of the island’s school Boards, who have been voluntarily making a tangible contribution to the nation’s education programme.

“We must pay high regard and give praise to our school Boards and our Chairpersons. They don’t get any money for what they are doing; they do what they are doing because they check for the next generation and they hope that through education we can do better in the future,” he said.