Residents contribute millions to JSIF project for Kendal Primary School upgrade
Published:Wednesday | July 3, 2024 | 12:07 AMBryan Miller/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Residents of western Hanover have contributed nearly $5 million towards Kendal Primary School’s rehabilitation as an investment in the educational development of its youth.
This follows the Jamaica Social Investment Fund’s (JSIF) recent signing of a contract valued at $117, 230,914 for work to upgrade the primary school.
The school population comprises 132 students (56 females and 76 males) and 10 teachers on its roster.
Chairman of the school board Marvia Brown-McKenzie, who was at the contract signing at JSIF’s office in Kingston, told The Gleaner that the scheduled improvements are much needed.
She noted that the school serves as a feeder institution for high schools in western Hanover and central Westmoreland, and usually gets very good passes in the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examinations, despite the less-than-adequate infrastructure.
“This is why the whole school and community family are so happy that JSIF has come in and will be doing all that work,” she stated.
“The community will be putting in some $4.9m as our contribution, and everybody is on board with respect to that, and are all agreed that the teaching and learning environment will improve,” Brown-McKenzie stated.
The upgrade will include the reconstruction and rehabilitation of six classrooms, construction of a principal’s office and storeroom area, an administration block and proper bathroom facilities, and installation of classroom partitions.
C and D Construction and Engineering Limited, from Mandeville, Manchester, has been contracted to carry out the project, with work set to begin within two to three weeks. It is slated to run for six to eight months.
The project is being implemented by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and will be funded through the Basic Needs Trust Fund Cycle 10.
“The school is doing very well now, and with the coming (renovations) I am certain there will be improvements,” Brown-McKenzie stated.
She noted the contribution of other community stakeholders, including two churches which have committed to offer space for classes to be held come September, while construction is taking place at the school.
“As you know, we cannot have the students in any hazardous situation; so the churches will facilitate the students when needed,” she noted.
“Everyone is looking forward to the improvements, and we are working together as a school family, as it stands to improve everybody’s life,” she emphasised.
Affecting child’s health
One parent told The Gleaner that she welcomed the upgrades, as the poor ventilation at the school was affecting her son’s health.“He complains every evening about the heat in the classroom and that he can hardly breathe while in class. I was even thinking about trying to get him registered in another school,” she stated.
She said she will now rethink that plan because of the announced improvements.
Member of Parliament for Hanover Western–the constituency in which Kendal Primary School is located – Tamika Davis, told The Gleaner that she is elated about the improvements set to take place, adding that Kendal and its adjoining communities will benefit.
“We want to give them (teachers and students) an institution that they are proud of, one that they will feel comfortable in, one that will make them better prepared,” Davis said.
“It’s a very old school and was in dire need of rehabilitation, and the impact that the works will have on the students, the community, and the parish at large will be immeasurable.”