CHARITY organisation Food for the Poor (FFP) Jamaica is inviting applications from persons who are interested in having basic schools constructed in their communities. They are to make contact with the organisation’s Ellerslie Pen, St Catherine offices via email at ffpinfo@foodforthepoorja.org.

The offer is an extension of the organisation’s Jamaica 50 basic school programme.

To keep the islandwide education project moving forward, several donors have indicated the availability of resources and their willingness to assist in the construction process. Under the programme which began on July 13, 2012, FFP Jamaica is constructing or upgrading 50 basic schools in 50 months across the island.

Each school is equipped with a kitchen, student and staff sanitation facilities, adequate classroom space, a sick bay, and a teachers’ office, with enough space to accommodate between 40 to 60 children.

Donors to the programme have, however, indicated that they have additional resources to assist in the construction of more basic schools, hence the request for applications.

FFP Executive Director Jacqueline Johnson says interested applicants must own the land on which to construct the basic schools, or the land must be leased for a long-term period. “The offer is being made by Food for the Poor based on the resources we currently have available as an extension of the Jamaica 50 Programme. However, we do not have the land space available, hence persons wanting to have these basic schools constructed must be in possession of land which has been approved by the authorities,” she said.

The organisation is also prepared to construct the schools at any location on the island.

Additionally, if the applicant owns the land, he or she must submit a copy of the land title and the most recent tax receipt. In a case where the land is leased, the applicant must submit a signed copy of the lease agreement (showing consent to occupy for at least 15 years) verified by a Justice of the Peace, and a copy of the most recent tax receipt. Where the basic school is to be built on the property of a primary school, a permission letter must be sought from the Ministry of Education or any other ministry, parish council or private sector entity which owns the land.

In all cases, approval from the Early Childhood Commission/ministry is required and applicants must have adequate land space for the school structure and must be able to demonstrate dire need.