New Free Hill Basic School Opened

Thirty one infants of Free Hill district, in North West St. Ann, and their teachers, are now benefitting from a new basic school, which was constructed by Food for the Poor.

The facility was built as part of the philanthropic organization’s Jamaica 50 Campaign, which targeted the construction or upgrading of 50 early childhood institutions islandwide, in commemoration of Jamaica’s Independence Golden Jubilee, in 2012.

The Free Hill Basic School was formally opened by Education Minister, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites, on Thursday, November 19.

In his remarks at the opening ceremony, Rev. Thwaites said he was “particularly happy” to be opening another educational institution in deep rural Jamaica, where, he noted, children are able to get a high standard education, equal to what is delivered to their counterparts residing in urban areas.

“So often in Jamaica’s past, you had to go to St. Ann’s Bay, (or) you had to go to Kingston, or Montego Bay to get a good education. You can (now) get a good education right here in Free Hill, up to Grade Six,” he stated.

Rev. Thwaites encouraged the residents to cherish the Free Hill Basic School, while also urging the parents of the children enrolled, to safeguard the youngsters’ development.

“What will go on in this little compound (entails) the most important period of education in any child’s life. This is the period, from birth to age eight, when their brains are developing, when their personalities are being formed, and when their future is being determined. Therefore, the quality of education at the early childhood level is of extreme importance,” he underscored.

The Minister also praised the gesture of the United States-based Tagligh family, who donated the funds to build the school.

Rev. Thwaites said their decision to invest in Jamaica’s early childhood education sector represented a “big gift” for the nation.