JTA calls for audit of school infrastructure islandwide

By Racquel Porter    

 

President of the Jamaica Teachers' Association Dr. Mark Smith is calling for the Ministry of Education to conduct an audit and invest more in infrastructure of schools islandwide.

 

This follows Sunday night's fire at Leeds Primary and Infant School in St. Elizabeth, in which the principal's office, staffroom, a classroom and the library were damaged.

 

During a visit to the school on Monday, Dr. Smith, while noting that now is not the time for pointing fingers, said a proactive approach must be taken to preventing similar occurrences.

 

Citing an underinvestment in the infrastructure for schools, he added that some institutions are a "termite bite away from collapsing".

 

The JTA president said discussions with Leeds Primary and Infant School Principal Christine Dawkins Beadle highlight the need for greater evaluation and maintenance of schools.

 

"In discussions with the principal we have seen where there has been repeated calls for assistance regarding electrical upgrades at the school.... That is something that we need to look at. In Jamaica, we tend to build but we don't maintain, and we have to really move towards a policy of ensuring that our schools are effectively maintained to avoid this, because the loss, the amount of money you have to find to do this entire rehabilitation work is significantly more than had we just done the work necessary," he reasoned. 

 

It is suspected that an electrical short circuit led to the fire which caused an estimated $50 million in damage.

 

The school is also without electricity.

 

Dr. Smith pledged support on behalf of the JTA, but also appealed for assistance with the rebuilding effort at Leeds Primary and Infant. 

 

"I make an appeal on behalf of the school to the business community and corporate Jamaica to come onboard and assist. This is one of those schools that's going above and beyond the call of duty.  I know the principal personally and I know she is one of those that she never relents when it comes on to raising the bar, raising standards, and we have to do our best to ensure that Leeds is reconstituted, rehabilitated so they can get along with the business of work."  

 

Divisional Commander for the St. Elizabeth Fire Department, Superintendent Kimar Brooks, said the cause of the fire, which started sometime after 11 p.m., is being investigated.

 

In person classes for grade six students resume Tuesday while the rest of the school will be engaged remotely.