Glenda Anderson and Erica Virtue, Staff Reporters
WHEN THE new school year starts in September, more than 20 cash-strapped private high schools across the island will receive a financial shot in the arm from the Government's new 'purchase of space' partnership programme.
But the number could rise as many of the 385 independent schools, catering to approximately 200,000 students islandwide are now facing serious financial woes.
A memorandum of understanding signed last week, between the Independent Schools Association of Jamaica (ISAJ) and Government officials should introduce the space purchase programme, which was first proposed nearly four years ago. The programme, which is set to run initially for two years, is to go before Parliament this week for ratification.
The understanding is that the Ministry of Education will secure or purchase school places within some private high schools for students who have been successful in the Grade Nine Achievement Test (GNAT), the local examination which qualifies students for 4th and 5th form entry into the secondary school system.
The independent schools will be given a contribution of $30,000 per student each year by the Education Ministry, in addition to access to all benefits under the Government's cost sharing programme. In return, the students will be guaranteed two years of high school education in 4th and 5th forms.
Government rescue of private schools in not a new phenomenon. In 1997, the Priory High School, one of Kingston's more prestigious private institutions, was faced with tumultuous financial difficulties and was taken over by the Ministry. Priory now exists as Kingston's newest public high school with Grade Six Achieve-ment (GSAT) students being place there each year.
The private schools have been looking to Government for a lifeline as many have been hit with serious financial woes.
While it was unclear how many of the 385 enlisted as members of the ISAJ are in operation, in 2000, only 40 private high schools were registered with the Education Ministry.
President of ISAJ, Wayne Robinson, said last week, that a severe financial crunch had forced several schools to close their doors in recent times with many more remaining in "serious condition".
"It is no rumour. A lot of the private schools around are under severe pressure," he told The Sunday Gleaner.
Among schools which were forced to close their doors are Eastern Academy in Kingston, which closed since the beginning of Easter term in 2000 and Dunrobin High in St. Andrew was also closed in January because of economic constraints. In an earlier Gleaner interview, Warren Hall High and St. Joseph's and Institute of Higher Learning in Kingston said, too, they were experiencing difficult times.
One principal explained that his student population had fallen consistently from 160 in 1998, to less than 100 in 2000. Another had overhead costs ranging from $54,000 monthly for utility bills, to $100,000 for stationary. The school fee, he said, was a mere $7,800 per term.
Traditionally, students sitting GNAT were formerly in grade nine in all-age schools. The all-age programme was later absorbed into the Reform of Secondary Education (ROSE) programme and schools are now classified as primary and junior high.
Children receiving a place under GNAT entered high schools in third form, but since the curriculum has been upgraded to a junior high level, they enter in fourth form.
The proposed arrangement should prove equally beneficial for the Education Ministry and the independent schools.
According to the Ministry, it would have acquired spaces for a number of students who could not be accommodated elsewhere. The plan has already been set in place for September's intake with places secured in the Corporate Area, St. Catherine, Manchester and parts of St. James.
