JSIF Hands Over $178m Upgraded Pisgah Primary School in St. Elizabeth

The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), on February 26, officially handed over the fully rehabilitated facilities at Pisgah Primary and Infant School in St. Elizabeth, marking the completion of a nearly two-year project valued $178 million.

The initiative was implemented under the Basic Needs Trust Fund and financed by the Government of Jamaica in partnership with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

In his address, JSIF Managing Director, Omar Sweeney, explained that when the agency first assessed the school, it found leaking roofs, bat infestations, inadequate bathroom facilities, and contamination concerns linked to the sewer system.

“Today, there is a brand-new infant school, a new multi purpose court, perimeter fencing and upgrades to the canteen as well as upgrades to every single building, classrooms to include new roofing, teachers’ facility, carpark and more,” he outlined.

Mr. Sweeney stated that the intervention was aimed at transforming the campus into a safe, modern, and dignified space for learning for the school’s 105 students.

He added that the upgraded compound was also designed to function as a shelter during times of natural disaster.

Beyond the physical upgrades, Mr. Sweeney noted that the initiative also incorporated social and capacity-building components.

He explained that five staff members received sanitation and hygiene training, while all teachers completed trauma-informed care training to better recognise and respond to the emotional and psychological needs of their students.

“Over the period, JSIF has done summer camps here at the school as well as parenting sessions. Also, 15 parents were trained in enterprise development and received enterprise development grants valued over $200,000 each to develop their respective businesses,” Mr. Sweeney indicated.

He added that, “this project is one that has been comprehensive and holistic, and it makes me feel only great things can come… going forward.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Sweeney highlighted that Pisgah Primary’s rehabilitation forms part of a broader national thrust, with more than $1 billion currently being invested by JSIF in vulnerable communities across Jamaica.

He pointed out that similar projects are currently underway in Grange Hill, Westmoreland; Old Harbour, St. Catherine; Mount Salem, St. James; and Mount Moriah, St. Ann, including the development of special education units and safe routes to school initiatives.

For her part, Regional Director for Region Five in the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Susan Nelson-Smith, emphasised that the rehabilitation is closely linked to community stability and equitable access to quality education.

She noted that there is a direct connection between a child’s academic performance and the quality of the learning environment.

As such, Mrs. Nelson-Smith added, the investment signals to students that they are valued and to teachers that their service is respected.

Principal of Pisgah Primary, Patricia Scarlett-Forrester, recalled times when heavy rainfall left students wet inside classrooms due to leaking roofs, when office space was severely cramped, and when there was no adequate playfield for children.

She further noted that during the construction, classes were temporarily relocated to a nearby Roman Catholic Church and operated under tents, a situation that required resilience and cooperation from staff, students, and parents.

“So thank you very much Mr. Sweeney and your team. You did an excellent job, and I know that you will continue to be with us. We also want to thank Caribbean Development Bank. They have been here on more than one occasion to ensure everything was going great,” Mrs. Scarlett-Forrester said.