MONTEGO BAY, St James –Overwhelming support continues to pour in for former Albion Primary and Junior High student Daniel Reid, since last month when the Jamaica Observer West published that financial constraints threatened to thwart his dream of attending Munro College in September.

The latest in a series of good news for young Daniel came on Monday from the Member of Parliament for St James Central Lloyd B Smith, who indicated that the Ministry of Education had undertaken to pay the student’s full tuition to attend the esteemed high school for boys.

“When I saw the story (in the Observer West), I felt touched by it and I got in touch with the Ministry of Education, and to my amazement I got a subsequent call from the permanent secretary [Elaine Foster Allen] that the ministry will be paying his full tuition to attend Munro College,” Smith said.

He added: “The good news did not stop there. In addition, we have to big up Scotiabank. The staff there has decided to adopt him and will be assisting him on an ongoing basis.”

Smith made the disclosure during an awards luncheon on Monday, which he hosted in his constituency for 15 outstanding GSAT students, their parents and teachers.

Daniel, who hails from the crime-ridden inner-city community of Hendon, Glendevon in St James, had from an early age expressed a desire to attend Munro College in St Elizabeth, citing the large number of professionals who received their high school education at the institution.

The 12-year-old boy has worked diligently, under less than ideal conditions, in an effort to realise his dream.

In this year’s Grade Six Achievement Test he recorded an impressive average of 92 per cent, earning himself a well-deserved place at the school of his dreams, much to the delight of his mother and teacher at Albion Primary and Junior High.

But it later became evident that the youngster may not be able to further his education at Munro due to financial constraints.

Boarding and other fees at the school of his choice would cost $275,100 for the first year alone. That excludes a long supplementary book list, clothes, bed linen, utensils, PE gear, and other miscellaneous items.

The high cost of schooling at Munro triggered fears that young Daniel might one day end up on the wrong side of the law if he remains in the tough Hendon, Glevendon community, which has over the years figured in a number of criminal activities, including murders and lottery scamming.

Shortly after the boy’s plight was reported in the Observer West, a number of individuals and organisations contacted the newspaper, pledging financial assistance.

Wisynco-Group donated a cheque for $50,000 to Crewe.