Mandeville, Manchester — The Frankfield Primary and Infant School in southern Manchester has been transformed with the addition of a new infant block.

A news release from the bauxite/alumina company Jamalco said the new block was constructed through the partnership of the school, community members, and local businesses led by Jamalco.

The initiative drew warm applause from Minister of Education Ronald Thwaites.

He congratulated the partners for taking on the project and raising the funds to build and equip the building. The news release said Thwaites singled out Jamalco for not only contributing $2.5 million to the project, but for also encouraging its employees to volunteer their time.

“You have invested well. When you invest in education you can do no wrong. Thank you very much for your great contribution,” Thwaites said.

Manager of corporate services at Jamalco, DonnaMarie Brooks-Gordon, commended the school and its principal for exemplary work to improve the school environment and students’ performance. “You must be lauded for the outstanding work that you have been doing [and for] your tenacity and drive to have the structure completed in such a timely manner,” Brooks-Gordon said.

She urged members of the community to protect the school.

“You have a duty to ensure that it is not vandalised. Too often, we hear that our schools are broken into and the equipment and learning materials stolen or destroyed. The school is here to serve the children present and those to come, so I implore everyone to work with the school to ensure that the building and its materials are preserved,” Brooks-Gordon said.

She also commended the 30 Jamalco volunteers who were involved in all aspects of the construction alongside community members — from digging and casting the building’s foundation to painting the completed classrooms.

Principal of Frankfield Primary and Infant School, Marcia Lewis-Brown, reported that academic performance has been improving steadily, with the school placing fourth in the high school entrance examinations, GSAT, in Manchester. There were also notable performances in the national Grade Four literacy and numeracy tests, she said.

Enrolment in the Infant School has grown from 36 students to 96. The new building, for which construction began in 2013, boasts two large, airy, well-equipped classrooms, as well as a storage area, the news release said.