CREATING and moulding outstanding individuals in various professions is what the Citizens Advice Bureau Basic School in St Andrew has been doing for 45 years.

The institution, popularly known as RJR Basic School, located on Beechwood Avenue, and serving families in the surrounding communities, celebrates its 45th anniversary this month, and Principal Nigel Francis is excited to have been part of that legacy for over more than four decades.

“The school started in 1980. I have been here since 1984. This is my 41st year, going on to my 42nd year,” he told the
Jamaica Observer. ”The school was actually the brainchild of Miss Hazel Monteith, who is now deceased. She saw the need for the school in the community. The Citizens Advice Bureau came from under the umbrella of a bureau that was looking out for the unfortunate, giving advice as it relates to people seeking birth certificates and jobs, etc.”

He said initially, people did not know where to send their children when they got work. The school was thus incorporated with sponsorship from the RJR Communications Group, along with other entities.

He shared that in 1980 when the school started there were only four teachers teaching 94 children. Today, the school has over 200 children, 11 teachers, and six ancillary workers.

“I must say we have grown in every sense of the way. The school is very much involved in extra curricular activities. We do swimming, dancing, gymnastics and with that said, we have achieved tremendously as it relates to track and field. Presently we are still the defending champions of the basic school championship. We were champions in gymnastics last year and we entered for the first time. The school topped our age group category. We entered karate competitions and we entered the Miami Classic and presently the school still has a record,” Francis said, adding that the school has copped titles in speech and drama as well as dancing competitions at the national level.

He said that he is very proud to see how the school has grown over the 45 years and how it has created opportunities for growth for teachers.

“I am very much proud of the school and the achievement, even with the teachers. We have produced a lot of trained teachers. I came to this school as a volunteer. At my level I now have a bachelor’s in guidance and counselling and I have a master’s degree in teaching to name just a few and I am still here.

“This is where I started and I have made that commitment and promise to Miss Hazel Monteith. It will have to take something tremendous for me to leave because this was her wish and desire for me to continue to build this institution. We have had a number of students who graduate to become teachers locally and overseas. We have produced doctors as well. I went to the Kingston Public Hospital and there were three doctors there who attended this school,” he said.

One of the school’s former students who went on to excel is triple jumper, Jayden Hibbert. He added that one of the track and field coaches at Kingston College is a past student as well.

“We have produced entrepreneurs and we have past students who work at the bank. I have lived to see my past students’ children coming here and in some cases their children’s children coming here,” Francis said.

Audrey Jolly, a teacher of 32 years, boasted of being part of an institution that produces students who excel at academics and sports, and children who are culturally aware.

“This is one of the schools that really go all out to incorporate other things in learning to enhance the children’s upbringing and their cultural background,” Jolly said

“Our children always leave here and they go on to hold positions in primary schools such as monitors, treasurers, and they are always leading wherever they go. They set good examples and are disciplined. When our children go to other schools, they stand out. Schools always crave to get them.”

Lavern Jones, another teacher, shared that she has been with the school for almost 14 years now and said she was “honoured to be a part of this legacy, as the school celebrates its 45th anniversary”.

“It is a good look. I have been here for almost 14 years. I am expecting greater things for the future,” Jones said.

Morton Stewart, the school’s security guard who has been working there for more than 20 years. (Photo: Jason Cross)