KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information (MoESYI) is spending $4.8 billion to upgrade hundreds of schools across the country.

Education Minister Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon provided an update during a ministerial statement in the Senate on Friday.

In a subsequent news release, the minister described the undertaking as a “comprehensive, islandwide school infrastructure programme, to enhance safety, accessibility, and learning conditions for students, teachers, and administrator”.

“Under this expansive initiative, significant upgrades are underway across hundreds of schools in all seven regions at a cost of $4.5 billion. Works include the construction of additional classrooms, laboratories and accessibility ramps and lifts, retrofitting of sanitary facilities, installation of security fencing and modernisation of electrical systems,” the ministry said.

“The effort is part of the government’s broader strategy to transform the education sector and create inclusive, supportive learning environments,” it added.

The ministry shared that key highlights for 2024/25 academic year include the following:

Accessibility Improvements:

-Completed ramp installations at Merl Grove High and Gaynstead High in Kingston with contracts valued at $1.3 million and $1.5 million respectively.

Additional schools benefitting include:

-Titchfield High (Portland) – $2M

-St Elizabeth Technical (St Elizabeth)– $2.6M

-Eltham High (St. Catherine) – $6.4M

Knox High (Clarendon) – $6M

Bustamante High (Clarendon) – $5.5M

The ministry said $50 million has been allocated for Edith Dalton James High and Brown’s Town High for ramp and lift installation during the 2025/26 academic year.

Meanwhile, the ministry said security fencing is underway at 11 schools, with an investment of $468 million; electrical upgrade is underway at 10 schools, including Little London and Savanna-la-Mar primary schools where a combined $429 million is being spent.

The ministry also provided an update on the repair work that was undertaken at hundreds of schools following the passage of Hurricane Beryl on July 3 last year.

Of the over 300 schools that were identified, $2.43 billion was spent in the initial phase to effect repairs at 112 priority schools.

“As of April 30, 2025, 101 schools are complete; 11 are between 70 to 99 per cent completed and the other schools will be addressed in the new fiscal year which is now underway,” the ministry shared.

In the meantime, another $5.8 billion has been allocated to effect infrastructure upgrades and repair works in the 2025/26 fiscal year to include TVET upgrades and new equipment for all the science labs across secondary schools.

Morris Dixon said the Ministry is committed to,“prioritising the physical development of our schools to ensure that students, teachers, and administrators have safe, accessible, and modern environments that foster learning and growth. Upgrading our school infrastructure is not just about buildings; it’s about building a stronger, more inclusive Jamaica”.

She further noted that the Ministry remains committed to completing all projects efficiently and calls for continued patience and support from all stakeholders as work progresses across the education sector.

“Infrastructural upgrade is one of the pillars of the education transformation programme, demonstrating the government’s dedication to advancing national development through quality education in modernised facilities to enable our productivity and global competitiveness,” she said.