Regional director of the Ministry of Education Region Four, Dr Michele Pinnock, has called on parents to support schools in deep rural Hanover, many of which are experiencing a dwindling student population.

“Ladies and gentlemen, parents, I ask you please, don’t take your children and pass all these schools up in this area. We get a little bit more when our children are right here with people that care. Lots and lots of good came out of this area. You have proof of it. Let us use that information and let us build Maryland so that it can rival all the other schools as it is doing right now,” Pinnock urged.

Pinnock was delivering the keynote address at the recent opening of a $3.6-million Maryland Community Computer Access [Centre] Point sited on the Maryland All-Age School compound in Hanover.

The facility is the 251st such centre developed by the Universal Service Fund, and was one of four such facilities opened in western Jamaica last week. The others were opened at locations in Rohampton in St Elizabeth, and Cambridge and Mount Carey in St James.

The Maryland facility is made up of 13 computers, a server, two printers, wireless Internet, software, furniture, a multimedia projector and screen, among other things.

Pinnock also used the occasion to congratulate the management and staff of the institution for the efforts being made to increase enrolment at the Maryland All-Age School and Mt Hannah Primary.

“I had a concern with the enrolment at Maryland All-Age. But I must say to you that your principal [Andria Dehaney Dinham] and the principal of Mt Hannah, undaunted by the difficulties and the low population, have kept abreast; and they continue to motivate their staff and convince their parents to make Mt Hannah Primary and Maryland be their school of choice,” said Pinnock.

The Maryland All-Age School was constructed to house 150 students, but the school currently has only 91 students enrolled.

The immediate former principal, Delva Baker, who has served the institution for 23 years, and who was an advocate for the computer centre, pointed to the strong, caring and protective spirit of the community.

“There are many reasons why schools do well. When I was here for 23 years, this school has never been broken into. And it is not because of the grille, it is because of the people,” stressed Baker, in whose honour the centre was named.

Chief executive officer of the Universal Service Fund, Hugh Cross, expressed similar sentiments.

“I am so happy to see the involvement of the entire community. I commend this Maryland community. Let me tell you, this is not a feature of many communities, as we would like. So please continue to do your good work,” encouraged Cross.

Maryland All-Age school principal Andria Dehaney Dinham thanked the fund for making the dream of the community a reality, noting that stakeholders have been working on the project for the past four years.

“Thanks for believing in us. Thanks for investing in us. Thanks for making our dream come true. Thanks for bridging the gap and providing Internet access for everyone. And, to show our appreciation, we will ensure that our centre will be a model centre and Maryland will be on the lips of everyone,” said Dehaney Dinham, adding that the community will continue to play its role in creating a better community, a better country and a better world.

The principal noted that all the teachers at her school are computer literate and are willing and able to assist students and community members alike.