KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) –The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information is to undertake a number of infrastructural development projects during the 2016/2017 academic year.

Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Ruel Reid, said a total of 24 early-childhood and primary institutions will benefit from infrastructure upgrade valued at $38.6 million.

Additionally, under the early-childhood revitalisation programme, which is part of the Ministry’s rationalisation strategy, infant departments will be added to 13 primary schools at a cost of $16.8 million.

The minister also informed that two state-of-the art early-childhood institutions are to be constructed during the new school year at Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College in St. James, through Project for the Advancement of Childhood Education (PACE Canada); and at the Sir Clifford Campbell Primary School in Westmoreland, by the Rockhouse Foundation at a cost of $50 million.

“Our vision is to have one of these institutions in every parish,” the minister noted.

Sixteen secondary schools will be upgraded at a cost of $218.4 million, and $113.5 million will be spent to complete works started on 12 schools.

Senator Reid pointed out that under the Ministry’s Sanitation Project, the remaining 27 primary and one infant schools with pit latrines will get flush toilets.

This project will cost $20 million.

In addition, 27 primary schools that have only one classroom will benefit from the installation of partition walls, at a cost of $20 million.