ENABLING JAMAICA: REHABILITATING BASIC SCHOOLS ONE PROJECT AT A TIME

KINGSTON: May 12, 2009: 

National efforts to improve the learning experience of children in Early Childhood Institutions (ECIs) are often hampered by inadequate funding which translates to sub-standard learning environments. The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) is however one agency striving to give the ECI sector much critical support so that these institutions can operate in conditions that are Ministry of Education compliant.

In keeping with this thrust, the JSIF recently signed a contract with the Bath Community Development Benevolent Society for the Ginger Hall Basic School Rehabilitation and Canteen Construction to the tune of J$6.2 million. Under the contract, minor works will be carried out that will see the school’s electricity supply being upgraded, the provision of an emergency exit, the supply and installation of play equipment as well as the total construction of a fully equipped canteen.

Omar Sweeney, JSIF General Manager for Technical Services (center) signing the community agreement with members of the Bath Community Development Benevolent Society for the Ginger Hall Basic School Rehabilitation and Canteen Construction project. Witnessing the document is Dr. Fenton Ferguson, Member of Parliament for Eastern St. Thomas. The signing took place at the JSIF offices. 

Omar Sweeney, General Manager for Technical Services informed that the initial contract for the project was signed two years ago, however, due to funding difficulties, the project did not start. He nonetheless assured that, “JSIF is committed to the process and new funding has been found under the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) Basic Needs Trust Fund Fifth Programme (BNTF 5th Programme)”.

The BNTF 5th Programme is the CDB’s flagship poverty reduction initiative created in 1979 with the aim of assisting low-income communities in planning and implementing projects to improve their access to essential services through the provision of social and economic infrastructure and the opportunities for the development of skills to enhance employability.

Devon Nelson, President of the Bath Community Development Benevolent Society in signing the contract stated that, “I thought the project was dead, but I am happy that new life has been breathed into it. Right now, we would like to start a breadfruit chips project at the community center, however the cooking facilities are being used by the students, so we are truly looking forward to this project’s completion”.

The Ginger Hall Basic School Rehabilitation and Canteen Construction project will be executed using the community based contracting method where the community will be the contractors for the project. Upon completion in 10 months, the 70 students now enrolled at the school will benefit from enhanced surroundings.

Approximately 15,547 persons have benefited from projects implemented under the BNTF programme in Jamaica. The largest proportion being children who attend Educational Institutions in Inner City communities such as Denham Town, Franklyn Town, Rockfort, Tower Hill, Olympic Gardens, Seaview, and Greenwich. Among the most notable ones are the Homestead Place of Safety that was rehabilitated at a cost of over J$18m, Watsonton Primary School that saw the $14.1m construction of a 6-classroom block as well as the Inner City School Rehabilitation Programme which saw $60m being allocated for rehabilitation and sanitation works.

The BNTF Agreement will close in 2010.