KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — The Government of Japan has provided grants totalling approximately $20 million (US$165,497) to fund expansion of the Epworth Primary School in St Ann and Zion Hill Primary School in Manchester.

The provision of $10 million (US$82,715) to Epworth Primary School will be used to construct two additional classrooms that will enhance the teaching and learning environment at the institution.   

Zion Hill Primary School’s funding of $10 million (US$82,782) will be used to carry out extensive safety, security and sanitation works, and retrofit an empty room for use as an ICT resource room.

Both allocations were provided under the Japanese Government’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects and initiated through a partnership forged between the National Education Trust (NET) and the Japanese Embassy in Jamaica.

The NET will act as project manager for both projects, which are slated to commence in April 2017.

The agreements formalising the provisions were signed by Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator Ruel Reid; Japan’s Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency Masanori Nakano; Principal, Epworth Primary School, Kirk Spencer; and Principal, Zion Hill Primary, Simone Green-Johnson, on Thursday at the Ambassador’s official residence in St Andrew.

In his remarks, Reid thanked the Japanese Government for its continued support of Jamaica’s development, particularly in education.

He said the projects will greatly benefit students, teachers and other stakeholders at the schools.

Reid noted that partnerships are critical for the growth of the education sector and encouraged other stakeholders to come on board and support and develop the sector.

In his charge to students, Reid urged them to take their education seriously. “We want you to understand that all of us are investing in you, because we want a better Jamaica and we want a world-class highly trained and skilled workforce,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Nakano expressed hope that the new projects will serve the needs of all teachers and students, who will benefit from and improved school environment with better resources and infrastructure as well as additional classrooms.

He said the support for Jamaica’s education sector is critical, as education is the key to develop a nation and people and leads to a society with less antisocial behaviour.

Director, Donor and Partnership Management, NET, Latoya Harris, said the projects aim to transform the schools into safe, conducive, teaching and learning spaces for students and teachers.

 “This is a tremendous gift and we need you to take care of the plant, as it is your own home, because that is where you spend the vast majority of your days, and it is an investment in you, your community and this country,” she said.

Both school principals expressed appreciation for the grants, noting that these will greatly assist with enhancing the delivery of education to the children at their institutions.