ST JAMES, Jamaica (JIS) — Education Minister Ronald Thwaites says the Government is looking to increase classroom space at the Lacovia High School in order to remove the St Elizabeth-based institution from the double shift system by September 2017.

Thwaites, who was addressing the school’s annual prize-giving and awards ceremony on Thursday, noted that the institution, which was built to accommodate 800 students, now has 1,899 students on two shifts.

He said the aim is to expand the school plant to ease the overcrowding, and to ensure that by 2017, the school can start operating on a single shift.

“The Ministry of Education and the Government is devoted to the elimination of the shift system, including here at Lacovia High School,” he said. “We done 24 schools last year and we are going to do 32 or 34 this year,” he pointed out.

Meanwhile, Thwaites commended the students, who have performed well, particularly in external examinations.

He urged them to continue to make the best of their educational opportunities. “Substance is what is in your head; it’s the skill that you have – that is what is going to put you in a good position in life,” he said.

The education minister is also imploring students to start giving more value to the vocational subjects, noting that those skills are in high demand in the workplace.

“I say to you young people…value those who are skilled such as electricians, plumbers, automotive engineers, home economists, food and nutrition specialists, graphic artists, animators and all the other technical and vocational talents…they are just as good,” he stated.