The final touches are being added to a number of schools for the start of the Michaelmas term on Monday.
Speaking after a tour yesterday of five of the 23 schools upgraded in the 2011 Summer Domestic Programme, Minister of Education Ronald Jones said they were “essentially” ready to open the doors of schools across the island to students. Repairs to 23 schools cost in excess of BDS$1 million.
“I think that we’re reasonably satisfied with the work which has been done by the various contractors. We tried to spread the work as wide as possible, so that you wouldn’t have clustering in the delivery of these projects,” Jones said, adding that the eight-week summer break was a narrow window to get the work done.
The new Thelma Berry Nursery School, which is on the grounds of the old St David’s Primary School, had some major refurbishment to the value of $170 000 and is not yet ready, but school starts on schedule for the expected 60 students and six staff members at the nearby St David’s Parish Centre come Monday.
Of the five schools toured by ministry officials yesterday, namely Erdiston Nursery, Thelma Berry, Wilkie Cumberbatch, St Bartholomew’s and Milton Lynch Primary, four have been outfitted with either new or additional nutrition rooms with the exception being St Bartholomew’s.
A major upgrade was done to Erdiston Nursery, which will be headed by Marvaline Chadderton.
She is among a number of principals at the primary and secondary levels who will be taking up new appointments from today. Chadderton replaces Angela Chaplain, who becomes the first principal of Thelma Berry Nursery School.
Erdiston has been outfitted with additional bathrooms for staff and students, a new principal’s office and a kitchenette and reception area for staff.
Wilkie Cumberbatch and Milton Lynch now have two nutrition rooms to cater to the student populations which exceed 600.
Students and staff at St Bartholomew’s Primary will not have to brave the rain to get to different points of the compound any longer. The walkways have been covered, windows have been replaced and walls painted.
