Muirhouse Primary and Junior High gets sanitation block
GOLDEN GROVE, St Thomas: TUDENTS OF the Golden Grove Primary and Infant School in St Thomas will now benefit from more technology-based lessons after years of being deprived of computers at the school.
The new development was made possible after 14 computers and keyboards, along with two processing units, were recently donated to the institution by Food For The Poor.
Principal Claudette Gilzene could hardly contain her excitement as she expressed how grateful she is for the devices.
“I’m ecstatic! Now we can finally get started in the EduFocal programme that we’ve heard so much about,” she said.
EduFocal was recently listed as the largest online Grade Six Achievement Test content provider in Jamaica.
It combines study with play,
Sand it’s the first tool of its kind created for students at the primary and secondary levels in the Caribbean.
Students are able to benefit from friendly group interaction with their peers from other schools, and it assists them with subjects with which they have challenges.
Golden Grove Primary and Infant School is attended by students from surrounding rural communities such as Wheelerfield and Duckenfield.
According to Gilzene, most of the students have little or no exposure to computers and the Internet.
As such, she believes that the online social learning platform will greatly contribute to the teaching process at the school.
BEST INTERESTS
“From what I hear and see, it’s a great GSAT tool, and we’re trying to set it up as early as possible. The children are going to be so excited because it’s a strategy that helps them. You know, it’s just different from the usual charts and such,” she explained.
The principal, who has been serving in the capacity since 2009, told Rural Xpress that the school has been without computers for the last four years.
“In the past, we offered computer literacy courses, but had to abandon it due the lack of a proper facilities. I believe our previous GSAT students suffered to some extent because of the lack of exposure, but I have high hopes for this set, thanks to Food For The Poor.
It will also be good for the teachers as they can now go on the computers and get ideas,” she said, adding that she attended the institution as child and therefore has its best interests at heart.
The items were recently presented to the school at a handover ceremony and are estimated to value in excess of $380,000. A plaque erected on the school compound. ST ANN’S BAY, St Ann: STUDENTS AT the Muirhouse Primary and Junior High School in North East St Ann have welcome the end of the pit latrine era at the school with the opening of a newly constructed sanitation block on Monday.
Principal Jason Simpson, who spoke of the construction during a Gleaner interview in June, was happy for the improvement, which came about courtesy of the Ministry of Education with assistance from the PetroCaribe Development Fund and the Jamaica Social Investment Fund.
“Developments at Muirhouse Primary and Junior High are not limited to the sanitation block,” Simpson pointed out to The Gleaner. “Currently, the CHASE Fund has lent support to the construction of a model Infant Department, which is now under way and is expected to be completed by the end of this academic year.”
The construction comes after the Muirhouse New Testament Church of God had built a security post at the school, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency had donated a multimedia system, earlier this year.
The school has also been making strides academically, according to Simpson.
“Strides have also been made with regards to academic performance of our students, as the 2016 National Grade Four Literacy and Numeracy Test results stand at 87.5 per cent and 88.9 per cent mastery respectively, both showing marked improvement in comparison to students’ 2015 performance. Under astute leadership, the Muirhouse Primary and Junior High School continues to be a beacon of hope for the students of north-western, St Ann.”
MANY CHALLENGES
The school principal is also appealing for continued help for Muirhouse Primary and Junior High.
“We invite our stakeholders to continue partnering with us as we meet the many challenges in a decisive manner. We welcome support towards further infrastructural development, Internet access, perimeter fencing, sports development as well as teaching-learning resources,” Simpson said.
Among those attending the opening ceremony were Stephan Sinclair, representing Jamaica Social Investment Fund and PetroCaribe; Delroy Redway, councillor for the Brown’s Town area; Linda Miller, senior education officer; Kenyatta Lumsden, education officer; Aldine McKenzie of NCB; and Craig Khanai, contractor.
Principal Jason Simpson may be contacted at email: muirhouse.primary.san @moey.gov.jm.