Major School Infrastructure Upgrade

A major programme for the expansion of 19 secondary and primary level institutions across the island, has been allocated $899 million for the continuation of construction activities during the new fiscal year.

Details of the works, being facilitated under the Primary and Secondary Infrastructure Programme, are contained in the 2022/2023 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives.

The objectives of the programme are to construct classrooms and other amenities for the elimination of the shift system and overcrowding at 17 high and two primary schools. The project includes construction of an infant school.

The allocated sum will go towards completing works under Papine High Phase I, St. Andrew; Black River High Phase II, St. Elizabeth; Cedric Titus High Phase I, Trelawny; and at Newell High, St. Elizabeth; Bridgeport High, St. Catherine; and Dias Infant School, Hanover.

Additionally, construction will commence at Westwood High and Albert Town High, Trelawny; Holmwood Technical High, Manchester; Port Antonio High, Portland; and Exchange All-age, St. Ann.

The Government will also seek to complete electrical upgrading at Holmwood Technical; McGrath High, St. Catherine; Alston High, Clarendon; Priory Primary and Junior High, St. Ann; Little London and Savanna-La- Mar primary schools in Westmoreland; and Seaforth High, St. Thomas.

Work will also be undertaken to complete construction of security fences at Kingston High; Priory Primary and Junior High; Victoria Town Primary, Manchester; Eccleston Primary, St. Catherine; Windsor Forest Primary, Portland; Port Royal Primary, Kingston; McAuley Primary, St. Catherine; Mount Hannah and Galina primary schools, St. Mary; and Ebenezer and Naggo Head primary schools, St. Catherine.

Achievements under the project up to December 2021, include construction work under Phase II at Norman Manley High, Kingston; and completion of pre-contract activities at Kingston College and Papine High Phase I; Edwin Allen High, Clarendon; and Black River High Phase 11.

In addition, electrical upgrades were completed at Kemps Hill High, Garvey Maceo High, and Denbigh High, Clarendon; Charlie Smith High, Kingston; St. Mary Technical; and Tarrant High, Kingston; and pre-contract activities for electrical works at Holmwood Technical and Denbigh high schools.

Meanwhile, construction of 10 classrooms at Edwin Allen High was 75 per cent completed, while work began on eight classrooms, including sanitary facilities, under Black River High Phase I, along with four classrooms and laboratories under Phase II.

Security works at Cedric Titus High and Papine High were 85 per cent completed.

The programme is being financed by the Government of Jamaica and is being implemented under the Ministry of Education and Youth’s National Education Trust (NET).