Major Upgrading At Melrose Primary and Junior High School

KINGSTON — The learning environment and play area for students enrolled at the Melrose Primary and Junior High School in Kencot, St. Andrew, have been significantly improved, following upgrading works undertaken at the institution.

The $26.7 million project, funded under the European Union’s (EU) Poverty Reduction Programme II (PRP II) and facilitated by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), included the construction of changing rooms, perimeter wall fencing, painting of the school, removal and installation of a new roof for the home economics building, installation of new doors, new concrete louvres, installation of gutters, minor electrical works, termite treatment and construction of a playfield.   

This should directly benefit 942 students, comprising 398 males and 544 females, with indirect beneficiaries being 5,920 community members, various community groups that host meetings at the school, as well as the wider locality.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony at the school's Little Kew Road premises in Kingston, today (October 25), Managing Director of JSIF, Scarlette Gillings, said the work epitomises the “build back better” approach, in which the design of projects goes far beyond the repair of roofs to encompass a detailed scoping of hazard vulnerability, fitness purpose, user needs, as well as going beyond construction to maintenance and sustainability.

She said the community of Kencot provided, through contribution in kind and other provisions, some $6.67 million, amounting to 25 per cent of the project cost.

For his part, Head of the European Delegation, Ambassador Marco Alemanni, said the improvement works will allow for children to hone their athletic skills from early.

“What we are doing here is just part of the larger plan to help you who are in difficult communities, so that you can come to school and find a place where it is pleasant to study, but also pleasant to play sports and work together,” he said.

Ambassador Alemanni said that so far, 17 such projects have been completed or are nearing completion, adding that the EU recently approved another $1 billion to expand and extend the Poverty Reduction Programme.

In her remarks, Principal of the school, Jennifer Lee, said it is extremely gratifying to see so many persons benefiting from the playfield and the other facilities, adding that students now have a secure area to engage in their physical activities and also to change after these activities.

"The recommissioned field has also been a God-sent as the physical education department and other primary and junior high schools in Kingston and St. Andrew have   seized the opportunity to use the field for the parish football and netball competitions,” she added.

Mrs. Lee said the rehabilitated buildings have improved the school's infrastructure, while enhancing the students learning environment.

"The treatment of termites was also greatly welcomed by the school, because we were losing significant investments in teaching material, furniture, classrooms and the plants,” she said.

Member of Parliament for the area, Dr. Peter Phillips, lauded the various stakeholders and agencies for their efforts in “raising the quality of school life (at the institution)”.

By Chris Patterson, JIS Reporter