TRELAWNY, Jamaica— Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Dr Kasan Troupe has revealed that each region within the ministry has received $10 million to provide critical support to school canteens.

Addressing a question and answer session of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) 60th Annual Conference in Trelawny on Wednesday, Troupe pointed out that this critical list is separate from operations grant and maintenance fund.

“We did send out the critical repairs for canteens. Seventy million dollars in the budget this year to assist… and that’s desperate from what we do for the operations grant and maintenance. Each region got $10 million. They did their survey to indicate the schools that are in need. That list was sent to the central ministry and those schools were funded,” stated Troupe.

The permanent secretary said schools in need will use the funds to replace items such as refrigerators, and stoves or address issues with windows.

Troupe said schools that had failed to respond to the survey or their names did not appear on the critical list should have dialogue with their regional directors.

The permanent secretary was responding to Suzette Baker, a teacher from May Pen, who had asked for an update.

-Anthony Lewis