Infrastructure Upgrades at Montego Bay High for Girls

Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, says infrastructure upgrades to the Montego Bay High School for Girls in St. James is a top priority.

“The school really needs some additional facilities. As such, the submission of plans to enhance Montego Bay High have been made to the technical department of the Education Ministry. We (the Ministry) will commit to doing all the necessary improvements that the school requires, so that students can have a first-class institution,” Senator Reid said.

He was speaking at the school’s annual prize-giving and dedication ceremony, which was held in the institution’s auditorium in St. James on Thursday (November 22).

Several students were awarded at the ceremony for their outstanding performances in academia and extracurricular activities during the 2017/2018 academic year.

The Minister lauded the staff and students of the school for the achievements, underscoring that all stakeholders are to be credited for the school’s consistent outstanding performances.

“The Prime Minister and by extension the Administration are extremely proud of your excellence and achievements here.  We are aware that the institution is a traditional one, and one of the first all-girl high schools in Jamaica, but for that tradition of excellence to be maintained, it has to occur by virtue of good leadership, commitment and the hard work of all the stakeholders,” Senator Reid said.

“My mission as Education Minister is to make Montego Bay High School for Girls the standard to which all other schools and students should aspire. I have a responsibility to ensure that other schools are like this one, so that all other students in the island will achieve the excellence that has been achieved here,” he added.

For his part, Acting Principal of the school, Gairy Powell, thanked Senator Reid and Regional Director of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information (Region Four), Dr. Michelle Pinnock, “for their continued support as it relates to the development of the school’s infrastructure”.

The school awarded students who topped the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams regionally in English Language; Food, Nutrition and Health; Visual Arts; Textile, Clothing and Fashion as well as Physical Education and Sports. The top-three students of each class with outstanding averages were also awarded.