The faculty and staff of the Bishop’s College are one step closer to achieving their goal of a student body of 525 students, with the commissioning of two new classrooms earlier this week.{{more}}

The addition of the new rooms brings the total number of classrooms to 13. The school’s population presently stands at 440 students, with two more rooms still to be completed in the project, which is estimated to cost about $282,000.

Principal of the 47-year-old institution, Cecelia Akers-King, addressing a special assembly to commemorate the commissioning of the new wing, said that the extension of the school was in part the Government’s thrust in educational development and universal access to secondary education.

“…. A need for additional school space, and in keeping with the vision of founder Bishop Grant Harold Piggot, the Board of Governors decided to partner with the Ministry of Education, and by extension,the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.”

“Two additional classrooms enabled us to increase the September intake from sixty to 97.”

The principal indicated that the project, which got started in July last year, also includes the renovation of the principal’s office. She also disclosed that the new wing of the school was furnished with new furniture, compliments the Ministry of Education.

According to King, the second phase of the project is expected to be completed soon, as the school moves towards a three-year plan to make the institution the best co-ed secondary school in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, who delivered the keynote address at the ceremony, commended the staff and students for what he observed as ‘a school which does a lot with little,’ and committed funds to the tune of $50,000 for the further equipping of the school’s science laboratory.

“I look at these things, because science begins and ends with observation… so that when you want 40 to 50 thousand dollars for a science lab for a school which is doing for itself very well, that is a small sum of money to invest further in this excellent institution.”

Dr. Gonsalves, who taught for one year at the former Bishop’s College Georgetown (now the Georgetown Secondary School), said that his administration has an excellent partnership with all churches in all areas of co-operative activity, but an exceptionally good relationship in the field of Education, especially with the Anglican Church.

Also addressing the ceremony were Chairman of the Board of Governors Dean Patrick McIntosh, Bishop of the Windward Islands C. Leopold Friday, and Senior Education Officer with responsibility for secondary schools Carlton Hall.

The Blessing of the new wing was conducted by Bishop Friday.

The first phase of the project was started by contractor Benjamin Fraser and completed by Brennon Frederick.