WORK is to commence soon for the construction of two additional classrooms at Buff Bay High School in Portland, at a cost of approximately $13m.

This will increase the number of classrooms to 20 for the 800 students enrolled at the school.

The classrooms, along with a storage area, will be constructed with grant funding of $11 million provided under the Government of Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project, through the Japanese Embassy in Jamaica.

This money was committed following representation made by the school’s chairperson, Edith Smith, to the office of the Japanese Ambassador to Jamaica, Yasuo Takase.

The remaining project sum will be provided by the Ministry of Education, and from the Constituency Development Fund of Daryl Vaz, Member of Parliament for Western Portland, where the school is situated.

Education Minister Ronald Thwaites and Vaz pledged to allocate $1 million each from the ministry’s 2015/16 budget, and the CDF, respectively, during the grant contract signing ceremony at the school on December 10.

Thwaites expressed gratitude to the Government and people of Japan for their continued contribution to the development of education in Jamaica. “This is a huge undertaking and a very noble task (of) human solidarity that is inherent in this gift,” the minister said.

Thwaites also gave a commitment to approve establishment of a sixth form programme at Buff Bay High School, once an adequate number of students has been identified for enrolment.

“Once the school is able to get a body of students who are matriculating to higher education, we will give you permission to start a sixth form here,” he assured.

Thwaites also lauded Vaz’s commitment to Buff Bay High School, and education in general, particularly within Portland.

“The policy of this Government, and I am sure of any other, is that we must try to unite in our approach to advance education,” the minister said.

In his remarks, Ambassador Takase noted the space constraints that the 46-year-old school has experienced over the years, resulting in the administration having to institute the double-shift system.

He pointed out that with the school’s current student population, there is dire need for more classrooms to facilitate adequate teaching and learning.

“With our contribution, it is my hope that the project will be completed in time to give a positive impact on every student in this institution,” he added.

Ambassador Takase said Grassroots Human Security Project activities undertaken in Jamaica have supported key areas, such as education, agriculture, community development, health, and emergency care response.