Moreland Primary School gets New Building

The 73-year old Moreland Hill Primary School in Westmoreland now has a new building with modern amenities to enable a more conducive teaching/learning environment.

Through a $15 million grant from the Rockhouse Foundation in Negril, the old school structure was demolished and a new plant built during the summer holidays, complete with new furniture and modern bathroom facilities.

The new building was officially re-dedicated on Thursday (Nov. 7), during a ceremony, which was attended by a contingent from the Ministry of Education led by portfolio Minister, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites; representatives of the Rockhouse Foundation; members of the clergy; political representatives; and a host of community persons.

Minister Thwaites, in his remarks, expressed appreciation on behalf of the Government to the donors and all who played a part in making the project a reality.

He noted that schools, and by extension education, “represent hope for communities and for us as a nation, as it represents real power”.

“A school is always going to be the hope of the community.  We could bring millions of tourists, we could grow acres of sugarcane, we could plant up the hills with all kinds of food, unless we have an educated population, we are not going anywhere as individuals or as a nation,” he stated.

Rev. Thwaites urged the parents to utilize the facility and always protect it so that it can serve the community for a long time to come.

He also encouraged them to make the necessary sacrifices to ensure that their children attend school every day, and also to monitor their day-to-day activities.

Principal of the institution, Alecia Laing, expressed gratitude for the work done. She said the school was down to 35 students when she arrived in January of this year, and was on the verge of being closed by the Ministry.

She noted that it has since “bounced back” and is now up to over 100 students and climbing.

President of the Rockhouse Foundation, Peter B Rose, said that his foundation has established a long standing partnership with the Moreland Hill community and the primary school.

He said the members of the foundation want to see children from the institution “grow up to achieve anything they set their minds to in life”.

“That is their right, that is what they should do, that is what we have the obligation to make sure they can do,” he stated.

Mayor of Savanna-la-mar, Councilor Bertel Moore, also encouraged parents to play their role and ensure that their children attend school every day.