Mixed views about Hydel-Cumberland High merger

 

The merger of the now defunct Hydel High School with Cumberland High is receiving a mixed reaction from parents and guardians as the new school year gets underway on Monday. 

 

The merger comes amid concerns about transportation costs and the challenges of adjusting to the new arrangement. 

 

Nadine, whose granddaughter was part of Hydel's track and field programme, says the lack of Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) buses along the route from her home to Cumberland is already proving costly.

 

"Right now, we a spend a whole heep a money fi transportation and dem supm deh. We live outta Callaloo Mews and we haffi tek two bus fi reach over here," she complained, adding all efforts to get a transfer to another school have proven unsuccessful. 

 

"Mi a try fi get transfer, and every school turn mi back... Once you go and you mention Hydel, them seh them nah tek di kids them," she explained.

 

On the other hand, Roxanne Reid, said the transition to Cumberland is a chance for her daughter, who is from St. Elizabeth, to have a better learning environment inside a structurally sound facility. 

 

"The Hydel building was deteriorating, but this a more structural building for them. And the principal promises to give them, the track team - because my daughter is on the track team - a more fierce, a more genuine push towards the academic and sports events. What I was told is they will be staying at Hydel for some time until there is a building to be put in place for them to stay," said Ms. Reid. 

 

The Ministry of Education in June revealed that Hydel would be consolidated with Cumberland High in the face of long-standing debt and other serious operational headwinds. 

 

The institution, which had been private since inception, transitioned to public under government control in January this year.