Stakeholders hopeful upgraded school will drive Pisgah development

WESTERN BUREAU:

Plans by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) to construct a new and improved compound at the Pisgah Primary and Infant School in St Elizabeth is a significant step to development, said stakeholders.

JSIF’s plan was revealed on Tuesday by Mona Sue-Ho, the entity’s senior manager for social development, who shared that big things are coming for the pre-primary and primary institution later this year.

According to Sue-Ho, JSIF will be building six new classrooms at the primary level, while the infant department will benefit from two classrooms. In addition to that, the institution will receive new bathrooms, a principal’s office, sick bay, an administrative area, along with a playground and a multi-purpose court.

The budget is yet to be finalised as the project is still in the procurement phase, Sue-Ho told The Gleaner. However, principal at Pisgah, Patricia Forrester, has excitedly welcomed the project as she believes it has been long overdue.

“When I started as principal of this school in 2012, though I have been teaching here since 1995, I said that we cannot continue like this; I am woman of excellence and therefore, our school is not what I want it to be. This is not the kind of environment that I want for my children, so I wrote a proposal to JSIF in 2013.

“They have been sending back messages to me over the years to say that they do not have any money. It got to me until I told them that I am not taking no for an answer anymore because I need a school. They came on board, so we are going to have a new school.”

While noting that the rural St Elizabeth school has been struggling to stay afloat for many years, Forrester said that the construction of new classrooms and amenities will greatly improve the standard of living in Pisgah.

As it currently stands, teachers and students at Pisgah Primary and Infant School are said to be occupying three areas that are divided into classrooms by either a sheet of ply board or a chalkboard. The school library was recently transformed into an additional bathroom, Forrester shared.

A resilient group

While describing the institution as “resilient”, Forrester admitted that both teachers and students at Pisgah Primary and Infant School have been forced to make themselves comfortable with the little resources available.

“We are a resilient group of people since 1901 when the school was started. All the persons before me have been very resilient. Hats off to the students because they, too, have been very resilient.

“We have a desk in our school that a teacher, who is now 61 years old and is going off on early retirement, sat on as young girl during her years as a student here. It is still here,” Forrester shared.

At the same time, the principal said that though the institution receives funding from the Education Ministry, they have also had to find ways to garner additional resources.

“It is not adequately funded, but we have our past students who chip in now and then and I am a beggar, so I go out and beg to get the help that we need.”

She went on express gratitude to the team at JSIF for committing to improving the school environment for the children of Pisgah.

“This will be the best thing to ever happen to them. They really need the space because ventilation is a mess right now. With this heat, we are going through hell.”

For Rose Smith-Powell, former principal and current acting chairperson at Pisgah Primary and Infant School, the upcoming plan is like music to her ears.

Smith-Powell, too, believes that the construction of a new school will bring a well-needed social lift to the rural community.

“It is well-needed. It should have been here from years now. I am glad and the community is glad. We never expected a new school at Pisgah. At this Dead End? JSIF is doing something great.”

At the same time, parent Kerry-Ann Jones told The Gleaner that she is mostly excited for the addition of a playground and multi-purpose court at the school.

While pointing to three white lines along the roadway leading to the school, Jones explained that students currently utilise the thoroughfare for their annual sporting events as the institution lacks the infrastructure.

“And for their sports day this is where they do sports day. Do you see these lines? This is where they have sports day. But I heard that the school will also get a new playground and multi-purpose court, I think that is really great.”

However, she said that the new classrooms are also welcomed as her three children often complain about the school’s leaking roof.

“I am very elated because I can see that they really need it. Sometimes my daughters complain about the rain and that dem have to run because they are getting wet in their classes.

“And mi feel like the more the place clean and spacious, dem will learn better,” Jones said.

rochelle.clayton@gleanerjm.com