Upgraded classrooms by January for Clarendon College

Rehabilitation works at Clarendon College are expected to be completed by the end of December, just in time for the start of the new school term in January.

Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Marlon Morgan, made the disclosure to JIS News, during a tour of the institution in Chapelton last week. He said he is “encouraged by the pace of work” to renovate the school, which sustained extensive damage during Hurricane Melissa last October.

Spearheaded by the ministry, the renovations primarily target the lower-school classroom block. The roof is being replaced, while new columns and other reinforcements are being put in place to address structural issues, and bring the building up to modern standards. Temporary learning spaces have been erected so that students can safely continue classes while construction proceeds.

“Clarendon College lost the grade-seven block. They lost the roof to that structure; there was considerable land slippage as well. As part of the repair work, a retaining wall is being erected to fortify and ensure that the integrity of the land is preserved,” Morgan said. He noted that the temporary classrooms, which are made of timber, plyboard and zinc, are properly ventilated and accommodate six classes during each session.

Over at Central High School, Morgan looked at damage to the grade-nine block and the drama room, which lost its roof. He said that the school needs proper fencing and a retaining wall to prevent further land slippage, adding that repairs will be made to the fencing so that the playing field can be fully utilised. Morgan said there are other aspects of the school’s plant that need improvement.

“They do need additional teaching and learning spaces, and they are receiving support from our Region 7 stakeholders, so that they can have interim provisions and containerised structures to facilitate additional teaching and learning spaces,” he said.