Teachers unveil school projects

A number of teachers here are ensuring that their students have improved conditions under which to learn. Five of them unveiled projects last Wednesday, May 10.

They are Ethny Wyllie and Kenneth Burgin at the C.W. Prescod Primary School, and Juliet Dorsett, Janice Gilkes and Godwyn Gibson at Dorsetshire Hill.{{more}}

Wyllie turned a previous dumpsite into a garden spending over $10,000. The area has been transformed with plants and other adornments in a well-fenced section. She handed over the keys to the site as well as a rake, hose and 40 garbage bags to help with maintenance.

Kenneth Burgin’s project is a parking shed placed at the front of the C.W. Prescod entrance.

With the shed, constructed at a cost of over $6,000, students have a sheltered area before getting into the classroom.

According to Burgin, when students get wet “they stay away from school.” Principal Orde Ballantyne was happy with the efforts of his staffers and expressed the view that their contribution would go a long way in improving the students’ education. The C. W. Prescod School has a population of 839 students with 24 teachers.

The Dorsetshire Hill Government School benefited from the construction of a water tank and new security booth undertaken by Godwyn Gibson, a refurbished bathroom costing some $5,300, spearheaded by Janice Gilkes, and revival of the school’s 4H Club by Juliet Dorsett.

Dorsetshire Hill Principal Marsha Douglas expressed gratitude on behalf of her students for the refurbishment at her school.

“Our school is blessed to have benefited from these three projects at the same time. There were times when school had to (be) close (d) for half day because of water problems. When the teachers discussed the projects with me, I welcomed the idea,” Douglas said.

Senior Education Officer Sylvia Sayers outlined that the projects would go a long way in improving the physical conditions at the school. “They have chosen areas that are quite appropriate for the school’s needs and I urge the teachers and students to take care of these facilities,” Sayers expressed.

The teachers at Dorsetshire Hill outlined that the areas chosen to improve were community-based initiatives that would benefit not only the students at the school but also residents at Dorsetshire Hill.

The teachers are completing their Bachelors’ Degrees in Education Administration Programme.

Sylvia Sayers, from the Education Ministry, praised the teachers at C. W. Prescod for their “foresight and vision.”

She pointed out that “physical conditions of the school can impact positively or negatively on the teaching and learning at the school.”

Sayers encouraged students to take care of the new provisions. She invited other teachers “to be innovative and source funds to make the school environment conducive for learning.”