Morant Bay, St. Thomas:

There is growing concern within the education circles of St. Thomas with regard to a lack of space for primary schooling.

This week Maxine Henry-Wilson, Minister of Education and Youth, disclosed that the ministry would be providing approximately 16,990 new spaces by year-end at the primary and secondary levels. Not all schools, however, will benefit.

In St. Thomas, where educators state that space is sorely needed, principal of Lyssons Primary, Ena Barclay, is hoping that her school will at least receive the additional classrooms promised as she said the institution is "bursting at the seams".

Classroom to student ratio

The current classroom to student ratio at the school varies with some classrooms experiencing a one to 43 and one to 44 ratio at grades six and three, and grades two and five respectively.

Mrs. Barclay noted that the school's parent teacher association saw the need for space and started construction of a building, which was intended to contain a computer room and staff rooms, at the institution.

"Lyssons right now, at least, needs an additional three classrooms. But, if we get this building, which the Government has promised to finish, we would be grateful, as it will be used as classrooms for the new school term in September," she said.

Mrs. Barclay said that, due to the lack of primary school space in the parish, several private early childhood institutions have sprung up in Morant Bay, the parish capital, and surrounding communities in the eastern side of St. Thomas.

"If the public education could afford it (the needed school space) there wouldn't have been so many schools started," she said.

Hopeton Henry, president of the Jamaica Teachers' Association, echoed Mrs. Barclay's sentiments regarding space in St. Thomas and said it was extremely critical at the eastern end of the parish. He said most, if not all, of the primary schools in the eastern end of St. Thomas heading into Portland are overcrowded.

"Another school is needed between Lyssons community and Port Morant as there is a big gap," he said.

Mr. Henry said this great need for space in the parish may be associated with housing developments and population shifts.