The Great Faith Basic School in Exchange, St Ann, is struggling to keep its doors open after more than 20 years of operating in the parish.

As a result of the impending closure, Principal, Carmalieta Perry-Walker is appealing to community members to invest in the school.

“We need all the help we can get,” Perry-Walker, who heads the institution of 18 students and three teachers, told the Jamaica Observer North & East in a recent interview.

She added that the school, which has been in operation since 1992, is also seeking to boost its population. She explained that when the first operator of the institution left the school’s population declined.

“She (the first operator) was the foundation, so when she left the population dwindled,” Perry-Walker said.

She bemoaned the fact that this has caused parents to send their children to other institutions, but is now urging them to consider sending their children to the institution which, she said, has been providing quality education over the years.

“Children will get quality teaching in quality classrooms with qualified teachers,” Perry-Walker said, adding that the school’s student capacity is now 70.

The principal also explained that because of the declining population, the school’s income has been severely impacted and has resulted in extreme financial challenges.

She noted as well that the first option was to close the school. However, she said with the support of her teachers she is doing everything possible to keep the doors of the rural early childhood institution open.

Perry-Walker acknowledged that the Rotary Club and Mystic Mountain have helped the institution, but stressed that the school has a long way to go resource-wise.

Nevertheless, she has insisted that despite the school’s adversities she will not give up.

“The words reflect our trials, but we have the faith that we will rise,” she said, pointing to the school’s name.