MANCHESTER — The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) will renovate three basic schools in Manchester, at a combined cost of approximately $3.7 million.

It is estimated that all three projects will be completed by the end of September.

JSIF recently signed separate agreements with Garan-Tee Construction Company Limited for two of the projects. The company received a contract valued at more than $2.1 million dollars to carry out construction and rehabilitation work on the Campbell’s Castle Basic School in Windsor, Manchester. This will include the construction of a new toilet block and the paving of a walkway.

Garan-Tee was also awarded a contract, worth approximately $875,000 to configure and renovate the structure which now houses the Pike Basic School in Central Manchester. The interior of the building will be partitioned to create separate areas for the kitchen and lavatory.

In addition, JSIF will be providing equipment for the students, staff and teachers; chalkboards, a refrigerator, a stove and a filing cabinet.

The Big Wood Basic School in Craighead will also receive furniture and appliances from JSIF. The school will also be supplied with playground equipment, including a swing, a slide, a jungle gym and a sand pit.

A $670,000 contract was awarded to WA Reid Construction Company Limited to finish the kitchen facilities at the school and install a water storage tank.

According to JSIF, as it seeks to fulfill its mandate for providing support for vulnerable groups, the organisation invests in the construction, rehabilitation and equipping of basic schools in some of the island’s poorest communities.

Prior to its interventions, JSIF said, most of the schools were without adequate sanitary conveniences, most were overcrowded; and in some, classes were being conducted in unstable structures presenting health and safety risks for the students and teachers.

Up to June of this year, JSIF’s board of directors had approved $78 million for investment in various education projects.

Speaking at a recent ceremony held to mark the signing of the contract for the Big Woods Basic School Project, JSIF’s internal auditor, Donna Burnett, said with the implementation of the three new projects, JSIF was continuing its support for the parish of Manchester.

“We have a rich history of fruitful partnership with many communities across this parish,” she explained. “We have approved 32 projects for implementation in Manchester, which represents a total investment of approximately $161 million dollars. Of this amount, approximately $42 million — or roughly 26 per cent — has been spent on various school projects.”

In compliance with JSIF’s requirements for providing funding, each of the three communities which will benefit from these basic school projects is expected to make contribution in cash or kind. This contribution should be equal to at least 11 per cent of the total cost of the project.

“Research has shown that when a community invests in a project, they are all the more eager to maintain the facilities. Since they have helped to pay for the facility they readily take responsibility for it,” Burnett explained.