Cumberland All-Age to get Additional School Facilities

Ground has been broken at the Cumberland All-age School in north Clarendon for the construction of a complex valued at about $2 million which will consist of a computer laboratory, library, principal’s office, staff room and sick bay as well as a storeroom.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, which was held on Wednesday (March 3), Member of Parliament (MP) for northwest Clarendon, Richard Azan said that the complex was being built through the contribution of construction material from several associates of the MP, along with labour provided by parents and residents of the Cumberland community.

He also said that the complex was scheduled for completion in July.

Mr. Azan mentioned that the complex was part of several initiatives being carried out to improve the Cumberland community including the establishment of a multi-purpose sports court at the Cumberland All-age School, resurfacing of the road leading to the school and a $2.4 million project at the Cumberland Basic School to put in two other classrooms, an office, sick bay, kitchen, bathrooms and seal the roof of the building.

Guest speaker Senator Noel Monteith, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education congratulated the MP, the school and the community for their efforts to enhance the quality of education being provided.

“One of the government’s immediate goals is to raise the quality of education through the use of technology. The Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture, in partnership with the private sector and the school community, we are exploring the potential of information and communication at all levels of the education system and therefore this groundbreaking ceremony to build a computer room among other rooms, is a move in the right direction for the students, for the teachers and for the community,” he said. Senator Monteith also pledged to provide five to ten computers to equip the computer lab upon its completion.

The Cumberland All-age School has a population of 204 students and ten teachers and also caters to the nearby communities of Banana Ground, Ginger Hall, Belcarries and Virginia among other smaller districts.