KINGSTON, Jamaica — The American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ) has provided a grant award of US$20,000 for the development of teaching space for neurodivergent students in the Grade 7 Academy.

St Michael’s College, in a media release on Wednesday, said the grant was provided to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kingston, which is ultimately responsible for the academy.

“It will enable the retrofitting of a container that will provide smaller classrooms at Holy Trinity High School, appropriate for the teaching of students with neurodivergent issues, including learning issues,” it said.

“This need arose from the experience of the Grade 7 Academy initiative in its first year at Holy Trinity High, where some 20 students or 13 per cent of that cohort, exhibited learning issues that needed specialised assistance and smaller teaching groups than students who have standard learning abilities,” it added.

It said the grant will facilitate enhanced capacity to deliver teaching appropriate to the students so that they are not left behind.