A smooth start to school, was the report given today by Minister of Education, Technological and Vocational Training, Kay McConney, following a tour of the Lawrence T. Gay Memorial Primary School, Spooner’s Hill, St. Michael.
“We are happy this morning that school has started. We are excited. We’ve had the opportunity to see the schools before this first day of school and now we are on the first day and we wanted to come here to Lawrence T. Gay Memorial School, to be able to see how the students have settled in this morning,” said Minister McConney.
She noted that in conversation with one parent she had been told that the child’s orientation had made a difference because it had meant that today the child was neither crying nor clinging to the parent but instead “he was just ready to come” to school.
The Minister added: “I think that when we talk about the opening of schools, we sometimes think about the structure; but more fundamentally, we have to think about the opening of the school as being about the people; about the parent, about the student and the kind of experience that we are creating for them that is conducive to learning.”
Addressing the repairs undertaken at the school, she noted the Block which houses the nutrition room was refurbished last year, the Clarke Block on the eastern side was fixed this year and in some settings there were new tiles, strengthened handrails; new doors and frames installed as well new flooring.
“So we continue to invest in Lawrence T. Gay, to create the best kind of learning environment that is safe and that is conducive to the learning of these children,” she stated.
Ms. McConney, who also disclosed that the Ministry was “hoping to complete the entire campus including the administrative block”, thanked the team from the Education Technical Management Unit (ETMU), responsible for the refurbishment and maintenance of schools.
Emphasising that they would be on hand throughout to address any safety and health issues, she pointed out that other teams from the Unit could also be found today at schools across the island, ensuring not only that work was done but staff and students were comfortable in their spaces.
The Education Minister also welcomed the school’s new principal, Brent Blackett. Mr. Blackett, while speaking with media representatives, stressed it was “quite a push to have the school ready for today” and thanked the ETMU, the Ministry, other collaborating partners and his staff for their efforts during the last school year.
Expressing his pleasure to be part of the team, he said: “I am determined as I take up the mantle here to go forward and push programmes that will bring the school back to its former glory. I’m excited about where we can go and the potential that there is for this school. When I saw the little ones coming in this morning, I was excited and happy to see their little faces and I know they are excited to learn and to do well and I am here to maintain a level of discipline and excellence at this school and I know that we will get where we want to…”