KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Students and staff at the Cumberland High School in St Catherine will be entering the new academic year with a new image and a focus on rebuilding.

The institution has partnered with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information and several public and private sector agencies to rebrand the school, which experienced a breakdown in discipline earlier this year.

Since April, significant work has been carried out to improve human resources and the physical environment and build internal relationships.

Teachers have benefited from capacity-building courses at the Mico University College. Mico also conducted assessments of 120 students to determine competency levels and developed a specialised teaching plan to ensure effective learning.  Additional evaluations are to be carried out.

The Caribbean Maritime University is providing support by accommodating 59 students, who are participating in the Ministry’s Alternative Secondary Transitional Education (ASTEP) Programme.

They will be undertaking a two-year certificate course in food preparation, warehouse management, data management and customer service while doing regular studies at Cumberland High.

Telecommunications company, FLOW Jamaica, will be retrofitting an area on the school compound to facilitate customer service training for students interested in working in the field after they graduate.

Extensive painting of the school compound has been undertaken and security is being improved through construction of a perimeter fence and employment of two additional security guards to patrol the grounds. Closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV) are to be installed on the school compound shortly.

Education Minister Ruel Reid said the rebranding represents an important turning point in the school’s history. He said the ministry will continue to work with Cumberland in its transformational journey.

“Change isn’t easy. You are being challenged to engage in the process of transformation of your values and your attitudes. In the long run, not only you but the entire Cumberland community and Jamaica will benefit,” he said while addressing a service at the Faith Fellowship Emmanuel Apostolic Church in Portmore on September 3 to mark the start of the new school year and dedicate the rebranded school.