BY AINSWORTH MORRIS

Career & Education writer

THE Jamaica Public Service (JPS) Foundation has added another needy institution to the JPS Model School Programme, which they intend on transforming

in 2016.

Rennock Lodge All-Age School, located in the Rockfort Community of East Kingston, is the newest institution adopted on November 21.

According to Kelly Tomblin, JPS CEO, the foundation chose to add this East Kingston school with an enrolment of 200 in the main and infant departments, because the institution needed transformation and upliftment.

“The JPS Foundation’s Model School Programme aims to help early childhood institutions not just satisfy, but surpass the basic standards established by the Early Childhood Commission (ECC) in certain specified areas,” Tomblin told Career

& Education.

“Many of our early childhood schools are failing our students through inadequate learning environments and this was the case with Rennock Lodge All-Age School, which was housing its infant department in the library. [Also] I understand that 30 per cent of the school’s population live in nearby communities while the remaining 70 per cent are from other communities such as West Kingston, Tivoli Gardens and August Town,” Tomblin added.

Tomblin said the foundation knew that the infant department deserved its own properly outfitted space to explore and learn.

“One of the reasons we selected this school, also, is its unique position in service to a number of underprivileged communities and the contributions that its well educated students can make to the development of those areas,” she said.

Jacqueline Lewis, principal, said she was elated that the JPS Foundation decided to adopt the school.

“I am overjoyed. For many years, we were yearning for help and finally JPS has allowed us to be counted as one of the fortunate ones,” said Lewis, who started

teaching at the school 16 years ago.

“I expect a long, long fruitful relationship. I am so happy they have come on board to help us.”

Rennock Lodge All-Age School is 57 years old.

The JPS Model School Programme is a three-year initiative designed by the JPS Foundation to help early childhood institutions meet and surpass standards set by the ECC. For the year 2014, JPS Foundation and its donating partners have invested approximately $27 million in education and youth leadership.