IT WILL COST Government $1.2 million to carry out repairs at 17 primary schools this summer.
The 17 primary schools standing to benefit from the programme that falls under the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation are Gordon Walters Primary, Grazettes Primary, Half Moon Fort Primary, Hindsbury Primary, Holy Innocents Primary, Selah Primary, Society Primary, St Catherine’s Primary, St Giles Primary, St Joseph Primary, St Lawrence Primary, St Lucy Primary, St Margaret’s Primary, St Matthew’s Primary, St Paul’s Primary, Wesley Hall Infants, and Workman’s Primary.
The refurbishment programme will address repair or installation of louvred windows at three schools; installation of a covered walkway at one school; and ceiling repairs at three other schools. Additionally, there will be repairs to emergency stairs, roof work at five schools, construction of a new nutrition room and repairs to flooring, among other general repairs.
According to the ministry, while Half Moon Fort, Holy Innocents, St Joseph, St Matthew and St Paul’s are to have major roof repairs, the programme will not significantly compromise their role as key hurricane shelters.
Richard Harrison, project manager of the ministry’s Education Project Implementation Unit, noted that the repairs, which started on Monday, July 8, were scheduled to end on Friday, August 23, in time for the official reopening of school on Monday, September 2, for teachers and Monday, September 9, for students.
“This is to give principals and teachers at least a full week of [access] to the completed sites before the children return to their classrooms and to ensure everything is satisfactory,” Harrison explained. (BGIS)
