OCHO RIOS, St Ann — Teachers, students, parents and other stakeholders of Breadnut Hill Primary School in St Ann were in a celebratory mood last Thursday as the Japanese Embassy officially handed over an improved facility to the institution. The embassy, through funding from the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects, partnered with the National Education Trust to upgrade the school’s physical plant.

Upgrades included partial pavement of the schoolyard, erecting a perimeter fence, classroom partitioning, and painting of the buildings.

“It’s a significant milestone that we have achieved in partnership with the Japanese…we can celebrate because our children, our teachers, our community have benefited tremendously,” Principal Ricardo Kennedy said. “We are really appreciative of it.”

He said the upgrades were well needed.

“The yard was really, really rough,” he said, explaining that on numerous occasions students would hurt themselves falling on the rough surface.

He also pointed out that the schoolyard was always open, as there was no form of fencing. “The improvement has really helped us a lot, and we are grateful for it,” he added.

Felicia Campbell, teacher, in giving a vote of thanks, said Thursday would be seen as one of the most important days in the school’s history.

“We are forever grateful and indebted to the people of Japan,” she said.

In the meantime, managing director of the National Education Trust Marcia Phillips-Dawkins called on the school to treasure and protect the facilities. She said the National Education Trust could not have upgraded the school without the support of the Japanese Embassy, which provided funding of US$79, 258 or approximately $9 million through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects for the school’s upgrade.

“The better the environment in which teachers and students operate, the better the performance of the school,” she said.

Japan’s Ambassador to Jamaica Masanori Nakano said the Japanese Embassy is happy to continue partnering with Jamaica.

“Today’s handing over ceremony is truly a significant achievement. It indicates genuine commitment by the people and Government of Japan to work with our partners in Jamaica to further enhance education for all young citizens,” he said.

“We are happy to provide the new and improved school facilities, which will result in a more conducive learning and teaching environment for all boys and girls, as well as teachers, here at Breadnut Hill Primary School,” he added.

And applauding the work done at Breadnut Hill Primary, Floyd Green, state minister in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, spoke of a need to place emphasis at the primary school and early childhood levels.

Green said the Government will place major focus on primary schools this year. The first step towards this is an increase in funds allocated for each student to these schools, he said. The schools usually get $850 for each student; but that has been increased to $2,500 per pupil.

“Unless we get the basic schools right, unless we get the primary schools right, we are going to keep playing catch up with our children. We are going to have to spend significant monies on remedial education at the secondary level because we never got it right,” he said.

He pointed out that there is much to be done at the primary level, and Government is unable to do it without partnerships.