SPALDING, Clarendon — A donation worth $2.5 million was recently made to five schools within the North West Clarendon constituency from the Constituency Development Fund for upgrading of skills training facilities.

Member of Parliament Richard Azan, who made the formal presentation, pledged further assistance within another six months if the schools perform well in the areas for which money is being granted.

“If the schools perform well I will look at [donating] to another practical area. I don’t know what the budget looks like but education must be a priority,” Azan said during the ceremony at Spalding High School.

“It’s not my money; it’s your money you are getting back,” he said referring to taxes paid, “but I don’t want to squander it.”

The beneficiaries of the donation are Spalding, Edwin Allen, Thompson Town and Alston high schools as well as C Palmer Project for Hope — a skills-training institution.

The areas to be upgraded are home economics (Edwin Allen and Spalding), woodwork (Alston), welding for Thompson Town, and electrical at C Palmer Project for Hope.

The HEART Trust/NTA will partner with the schools to provide level one certification in the skilled areas targeted.