KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Savanna-la-Mar Primary School, in Westmoreland, is set to benefit from financial assistance of US$10,000 per annum over the next two years under the revised Adopt-A-School Programme spearheaded by the National Education Trust (NET).

According to a release, a Memorandum of Understanding to provide the support was signed by representatives of Dreams to Reality (DTR) Foundation, Dequity Capital Management, and the school, during a ceremony held at the Ministry of Education and Youth in Kingston on Thursday, July 28.

Acting Chief Education Officer, Dr Kasan Troupe, lauded the partnership as a “gift that will continue to give.”

“Education is a weapon that breaks the cycle of poverty and gives people the opportunity to transform their economic and social realities. You are not just touching the individuals who will benefit directly, but those who will benefit [indirectly],” she pointed out.

She then highlighted that the education sector requires “all hands on deck”, to provide students with opportunities that will enrich their learning.

Under the Adopt-A-School Programme, individuals and organisations are invited to identify schools within their geographical area that are in need of intervention. The objective is to promote partnerships for the development of the education sector.

Executive Director at NET, Latoya Harris, said that the Trust aims to connect “everyone who has a genuine interest in the development of [students] with institutions islandwide”.

“It’s important that we put our children front and centre, and how we [do it] is to make available to them resources and opportunities that they wouldn’t normally have,” she noted.

Principal of Savanna-la-Mar Primary, Megan Berry, expressed gratitude for the financial assistance.

“We dreamt of this relationship, and today it is a reality. I want to assure [everyone] that your benevolence will undoubtedly impact thousands of lives for years to come. Thank you for believing in us,” she said.