JIS: All critical repairs and construction being undertaken at schools will be completed before the start of the new academic year.

 

At a back-to-school press conference at the Ministry’s Heroes Circle offices in Kingston on August 31, Portfolio Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid said $750 million is being used to effect repairs at 190 schools.

 

He said $70 million has been set aside for renovation or modification works leading to the creation of 30 infant departments and partitions at 15 primary schools.

 

Senator Reid added that the remaining 69 schools that use pit latrines will be provided with upgraded facilities during the financial year.

 

The project will be completed through a partnership with the Jamaica Social Investment Fund, Food For The Poor and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

 

In the meantime, Mr. Reid said the distribution of school furniture will commence this week, and the process will be completed by the last week of September. More than 35,000 pieces of furniture will be procured.

 

Mr. Reid further noted that emphasis has been placed on procuring child-appropriate furniture for the early-childhood level.

 

On the matter of nutrition, Mr. Reid informed that more than 130,000 of the early-childhood cohort will be provided with breakfast and lunch, while other schools will receive money to prepare lunches at school.

 

The initiative falls under the Ministry’s School Feeding Programme, which is being undertaken in collaboration with Nutrition Products Limited.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid.