- Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer
Minister of Education, Youth and Culture Maxine Henry-Wilson (right), hands over a cheque to the Principal of Aabuthnott Gallimore High School, Geodfrey Sharpe from the Ministry's Secondary Schools Enhancement Programme.
MINISTER OF Education, Youth and Culture, Maxine Henry-Wilson, handed over $75 million in cheques to 17 newly upgraded secondary school principals for their enhancement programme, at the Ministry, Heroes' Circle, Kingston, yesterday.
The funds will be used for the activities detailed in school development plans submitted by the principals, including areas such as the sciences, information technology, literacy initiatives, library facilities and cultural initiatives.
"This programme is a way of ensuring we have one standard (for all schools)," said Minister Henry-Wilson.
This is the second year that funds have been allocated under the programme. In its first year, 21 schools received about $200 million. The aim of the programme is to improve newly upgraded high schools and to initiate and enhance the management of their funds. The programme also aims at closing the gap between the newly upgraded schools and traditional high schools in terms of the programmes they offer.
Secondary training co-ordinator Ruby Edwards said that the main aim was to bring the schools up to par, "because you can't give the building and nothing else". She advised the principals to spend appropriately, by taking into consideration their needs.
Principals have responsibility for how the funds are spent, but will be required to give an annual report and will be audited by auditors from the Ministry. The funds must be spent within the areas targeted under the Secondary Enhancement Programme.
The principals told The Gleaner that they have many plans for the cheques they received. Blansford Henry, Principal of the Sydney Pagon Agricultural High School, said he planned to enhance the computer lab, literacy programme and science lab by buying new equipment. Principal of Merlene Ottey High, Joan Jackson-Cope, plans to use the funds she received "to enhance learning, quality of learning and to improve the delivery system," in the areas of science, information technology and music.
The 17 high schools benefiting were: Mona, Merlene Ottey, Ruseas, Haile Selassie, Jonathan Grant, Carron Hall, Sydney Pagon, Knockalva Agriculture, Charlie Smith, Garvey Maceo, Albert Town, Aabuthnott Gallimore, Fair Prospect, Mile Gully, Bridgeport, St Anne's and Happy Grove. They received between $2.5 and $5 million that, according to Mrs. Robinson, was determined by the school's size and need.
