A new building that will house the infant department of the Boston Primary and Infant School in Portland was handed over to the school on October 13 by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF).

The building, which will accommodate 68 students, was constructed by the JSIF through the co-operation of the Boston Old Students’ Association.

It was funded by the European Union and the Government of Jamaica at a total cost of $7.8 million, of which the JSIF provided $5.7 million, and the Students’ Association, $2.1 million.

A total of 350 students attend the school.

Giving the main address at the presentation ceremony, regional director for Region Two of the Ministry of Education, Beryl Jhengelly, commended the JSIF for the work it was doing to alleviate poverty and achieve sustainable development in communities across the country.

She also praised the members of the Boston community for the spirit of unity they had displayed in making the project a reality. Jhengelly said that the building would go a far way in enhancing the delivery of early childhood education to the students, and exhorted the community to ensure that it was given the best care and protection.

She used the opportunity to emphasise that government was intent on improving the island’s early childhood education system, adding that several programmes and initiatives were in place to ensure that the best quality early childhood education was provided.

Also speaking at the function was Ambjorn Bergland, charge d’affaires for the European Delegation in Jamaica, who, in addition to expressing the EU’s appreciation for being involved in the project, also gave the assurance that the EU was committed to providing assistance to Jamaica’s social and economic programmes.