WOLMER’S schools celebrated reaching 297 years on Thursday with the announcement of a plan to transform the institution into a regional leader in educational technology.

Inside the Douglas Orane Auditorium at the Wolmer’s Boys’ School, Courtney Wynter, chairman of the joint board of management, announced to hundreds of students on Founder’s Day that the transformation will begin to take place as of now and is expected to take form by the time Wolmer’s celebrates 300 years in 2029.

“Given the local trends in skills development driven by rapid technology changes, the rise of artificial intelligence as a daily necessity, an investment in our economy, Wolmer’s must now position itself for the next 300 years. We must prepare our young men and women to meet these future demands. Accordingly, beginning next month, that’s June and continuing through to the 300th year in 2029, Wolmer’s will embark on a technology and multimedia expansion programme.

“This initiative will include an additional floor to the sixth-form block, starting next month. Over the next three years, we will add a minimum of 16 new rooms, including a modern lecture hall. We will expand our ICT laboratories, [and build] a professional studio,” Wynter said as he pointed out that a multimedia centre is also part of the plans.

According to Wynter, all the new facilities will be equipped with state-of-the-art learning tools and design to scale into the future. The project he said, represents the largest single infrastructure investment in the schools’ history.

“[It] will firmly position Wolmer’s as the regional leader in educational technology beyond 2029. Wolmer’s will stand as the première institution for developing technology talent in Jamaica. To achieve these, ladies and gentlemen, we will require the full support of all stakeholders, particularly through the contribution of our expansion fund and the continued upskilling of our teachers,” added Wynter.

He told the audience that for nearly three centuries, Wolmer’s has endured many shocks but still managed to stand strong today.

“We have never merged, never amalgamated, and never been divested. Today we stand proudly as Wolmer’s the oldest, and without question, the most well-rounded schools in Jamaica and the Caribbean. Despite many challenged in the past 297 years the attributes that have maintained constantly are our culture of resilience and tradition of excellence.

“However, there are those who may want to measure the Wolmer’s brand by our performance in Manning Cup or Champs [Inter-Secondary Schools Association Boys’ and Girls’ Championships]. We will say that Wolmer’s is without question the crème de la crème of educational institutions in Jamaica and the Caribbean. Show me another high school that has gotten consecutive top ratings of excellence from the National Educational Institute Inspectorate. There is no other high school that can hold that title. We therefore pause to thank those who came before us and laid their foundation of excellence,” declared Wynter.

Students of Wolmer’s High School for Girls listen attentively during a special devotion on Founder’s Day on Thursday inside the Douglas Orane Auditorium at Wolmer’s Boys’ School in Kingston. Wolmer’s School celebrated 297 years on Thursday. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

Principal of Wolmer’s Boys’ School Dwight Pennycooke and senior teacher Princess Hemmings with the torch used to mark the countdown to the school’s 300th anniversary.(Photo: Garfield Robinson)