Chief Education Officer, Dr. Ramona Archer-Bradshaw, is pleased with the designs presented in the Modern School Infrastructure Design Competition, which she said are reflective of the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training’s goal of education transformation.
Dr. Archer-Bradshaw was delivering remarks at the awards ceremony for the competition at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, yesterday.
“Today, we gather not only to celebrate the remarkable creativity and innovation that has been showcased through this competition but also to honour the vision that drives us towards a future where education is a cornerstone of a resilient and sustainable society.
“This competition represents one facet of education transformation, which seeks to provide a firm foundation in education for all of our students. This fair, inclusive, relevant, and modern education system will ensure that our children can leave school with the knowledge, attitudes, and skills that will enable them to have a bright future,” she said.
The Education Chief described the designs as ‘fancy, imaginative, realistic, and sensible’. She stated that each submission rose to the challenge of weaving these characteristics into the fabric of their designs, ensuring that schools were not only seen as places of learning but also sanctuaries that promote well-being and drive innovation.
Dr. Archer-Bradshaw also expressed satisfaction with the intricacy of the winning designs stating: “They’re a testament to the ingenuity that considers functionality, health and safety, sight security, climate resilience, sustainability, and community engagement. These are the pillars that will support our educational institutions as they nurture the minds of our future generations.”
The Modern School Infrastructure Design Competition, which started in March, saw designs from engineers and architects across the island, and it was judged in four categories: Nursery, Primary, Secondary, and Special Needs.
The winner for the Nursery design was Corey Evelyn. The first to third place winners for Primary were Ruth Durant-Sobers, Alana Brooks, and Maurice Clarke, respectively. For the Secondary designs, Julia Kirton, Ian Best, and Kevin Browne won first, second, and third place, respectively. Julia Kirton received the first prize in the Special Needs Design category, while Corey Evelyn and Frederick Johnson, placed second and third, respectively.
The Education Chief urged those present to remember that each contribution brings the Ministry closer to realising its dream of an education system that stands unwavering in the face of challenges, is adaptable to the needs of our community, and is respectful of the environment that it is a part of.
“When students are comfortable learning, they want to learn more. They want to do more, and they want to be more.
“Let us move forward with the awards carrying with us a spirit of collaboration and the shared goal of transformation of education with the express aim of creating a bright future for every child,” she said.